ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hyperthyroidism is rare in childhood and adolescence and Graves’ disease accounts for approximately 96% of pediatric cases of thyrotoxicosis.

Case Report: A 12-year-old girl, with no relevant family or personal history, was examinated for a thyroid mass noticed a few days before. She also reported excessive sweating of the hands and mild psychomotor agitation. Clinical examination revealed, in addition to the right thyroid mass, other signs of hyperthyroidism: tachycardia (115 bpm), hypertension (128/69 mmHg) and hand tremors. Weight was 43.7 kg (25-50th centile), height 163 cm (75-90th centile), BMI 16.4 kg/mq (10-25th centile). She was Tanner stage 4. She regularly used iodized salt. Laboratory evaluation showed elevated free thyroid hormones (FT₄ 41.2 ng/l, n.v. 8-16, FT₃ 20.64 ng/l, n.v. 2-5.01) and undetectable thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Antithyroglobulin were positive (269 KUI/l, n.v. <115) while antithyroperoxidase and TSH receptor antibodies were negative. Thyroid ultrasonography demonstrated an enlarged right thyroid lobe with four nodules in its context; the largest, nonhomogenous one measured 3.5 cm and showed intense perinodular and intranodular vascularity. The left thyroid lobe was instead significantly smaller (0.1 ml volume). ^99mTc pertechnate scintigraphy was consistent with a toxic multinodular goiter with suppression of the remainder of the gland. Pretreatment with antithyroid drugs was then started (methimazole at a starting dose of 20 mg daily, about 0.5 mg/kg daily) to obtain at least subclinical hyperthyroidism preoperatively. Heart rate, blood pressure, FT₃ and FT₄ normalized in two weeks; methimazole dose was gradually reduced to a dose of 7.5 mg daily, about 0.2 mg/kg daily. A mild increase of alanine aminotransferase was observed (<3 x ULN), with a complete normalization within a few weeks. The patient has increased about 6 kg of weight in 45 days and menarche occurred. A hemithyroidectomy was then programmed.

Discussion: Hot thyroid nodules in children are rare, with about 130 case reports described and a higher malignancy rate than in adults (overall rate of cancer 26.4%). In children and adolescents, according to the joint guidelines of American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Associazione Medici Endocrinologi and European Thyroid Association, treatment of choice of both cold and hot suspected nodules appears to be surgery. In particular for hot nodules, considering the high frequency of non-definitive reports from cytologic evaluation (FNAC), a direct referral to surgery is suggested. In cases similar to ours, lobectomy with completion thyroidectomy, if necessary, is suggested as a practical option.