ESPE Abstracts

Background: There is currently an inadequate number of studies on nodule and malignancy development in children and adolescents with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT).The aim of our study was to determine the rate of thyroid nodules and the nodule malignancy rate in our pediatric HT patients.

Material and methods: Patients who were diagnosed with HT between 2004 and 2013 were included in the study. The HT diagnosis was made with the elevation of anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies and a heterogenous appearance on thyroid ultrasonography. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed in cases with a nodule size over 1 cm or who had ultrasonography findings indicating malignancy (solid appearance, hypoechogenicity, subcapsular localisation, peripheral halo presence, microcalcification, coexistence of suspicious lymphadenopathy).

Results: The mean age of the cases at the time of diagnosis was 12.1±3.1 (5–18) years, and the mean follow-up duration was 3.1±1.8 (1–9) years. A total of 39 (%13) thyroid nodules were detected in 300 patients with diagnosis of HT. FNAB was performed in five cases whose nodule size was over 1 cm and seven cases who had ultrasonography findings indicating malignancy although the nodule was ≤1 cm. Multiple noduler were present in five of the patients who underwent FNAB. Malignancy was not found in any patient with multiple thyroid nodules. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in two of the 12 cases in whom FNAB performed. No difference was found between TSH levels in the follow-up of the patients with or without a thyroid nodule.

Conclusion: Thyroid nodule frequency on at HT background was not found to be 13% and the thyroid malignancy frequency 0.67% in our study. A diagnosis of thyroid cancer was made in %5.1 of the patient.