All issues > Volume 34(8); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(8):1116-1122. Published online August 31, 1991.

A clinical study on the thyroid nodule in childhood.

Yong Ju Kim¹, Ki Young Cheong¹, Jong Jin Seo¹, Young Hun Chung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Taejeon, Korea

Received: January 23, 1991;  Accepted: March 13, 1991.

Abstract

A clinical study was carried out in 27 children with thyroid nodule who visited the Dept, of pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital during the 4 year period from March 1986 to February 1990. The results are as follows; 1) The most frequent age group was between 10 to 15 year, and the mean age was 10.65 ±3.19 year. The male to female ratio was 1:4.4 2) All patients complained of asymptomatic neck mass, and fatigue in 4 cases (14.8%), palpitation in 3 cases (11.1%), tenderness on mass in 2 cases (7.4%), and lymphadenopathy in 2 cases (7.4%). 3) The nodules of 14 cases (51.9%) were in the right lobe, 8 cases (29.6%) in the left lobe, 4 cases (14.8%) in both lobe and 1 case (3.7%) in isthmus. 4) The diameter of nodule was less than 1 cm in 2 cases (7.4%), 1-3 cm in 15 cases (55.6%), 3-6 cm in 9 cases (33.3%), and over 6 cm in 1 case (3.7%). 5) 63% of patients revealed euthyroid function, and the remained 37% revealed various mild abnormalities in thyroid function. 6) Most patients (91.7%) had neither AMA nor ATA. 7) ‘Cold’ nodule was revealed in 13(56.5%) of 23 cases, ‘warm’ in 8 cases (34.8%), and ‘hot’ in 2 cases (8.7%). 23.1% of ‘cold’ nodules were papillary carcinoma. 8) Among the 19 histologically proven thyroid nodules,，78.9% was benign and 21.1% was malignant. The malignant nodules were all pailllary carcinoma. 9) 4 cases of papillary carcinoma and 2 cases of adenoma received thyroidectomy, and 67.9% of all cases received thyroxine medication.

Keywords :Thyroid;Nodule