Papillary thyroid cancer in prepubertal patients: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature&nbsp;

Salih,Abdulwahid M.; Qaradakhy,Aras J.; Abdullah,Ari M.; Salih,Karzan M.; Ahmed,Shaho F.; Najmadden,Zana B.; Abdulkarim,Meer M.; Ahmed,Harun Amanj; Hassan,Shko H.; Qadir,Abdullah A.; Qadir,Aso N.; Kakamad,Fahmi H.

doi:10.3892/mi.2025.273

November-December 2025 Volume 5 Issue 6

Full Size Image

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

November-December 2025 Volume 5 Issue 6

Full Size Image

Case Report Open Access

Papillary thyroid cancer in prepubertal patients: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature

Authors:
- Abdulwahid M. Salih
- Aras J. Qaradakhy
- Ari M. Abdullah
- Karzan M. Salih
- Shaho F. Ahmed
- Zana B. Najmadden
- Meer M. Abdulkarim
- Harun Amanj Ahmed
- Shko H. Hassan
- Abdullah A. Qadir
- Aso N. Qadir
- Fahmi H. Kakamad
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department Scientific of Affairs, Smart Health Tower, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Research Center, University of Halabja, Halabja 46018, Iraq

Copyright: © Salih et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 74
|
Published online on: October 1, 2025

https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2025.273
Expand metrics +

Abstract

Although papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is relatively rare in children, particularly in the prepubertal age group, its biological behavior resembles that of other pediatric solid tumors, where delayed diagnosis can significantly affect outcomes. In the broader oncology context, rare pediatric malignancies, such as prepubertal PTC, highlight the importance of tailoring diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to those applied in adults. PTC in prepubertal children is a rare occurrence that presents with a high likelihood of distant metastasis. The present study describes 2 cases of PTC in 9‑year‑old girls with irrelevant medical, surgical, or family history. The first case was that of a 9‑year‑old girl with a painless neck swelling for 4 weeks. An ultrasonography revealed diffuse thyroid lesions and cervical lymphadenopathy. She underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral neck dissection. Pathological analysis confirmed diffuse sclerosing PTC with numerous positive lymph nodes. She recovered well and received radioactive iodine therapy. The second case was that of a 9‑year‑old girl with right‑sided neck swelling for 1 year. Imaging revealed a Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System 5 nodule and suspicious lymph nodes. She underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral central and right lateral neck dissection. Pathological analysis confirmed unifocal conventional PTC with 17 positive lymph nodes. She recovered well, received radioactive iodine therapy, and remained recurrence‑free for 3 years. In addition, in the present study, a literature search was performed on the PubMed and Google Scholar database, covering the period from January, 2017 to February, 2025. The search used combinations of the following key words: ‘papillary thyroid carcinoma’, ‘papillary thyroid cancer’, ‘thyroid neoplasm’, ‘pediatric’ and ‘prepubertal’. Only articles published in the English language and reporting individual prepubertal PTC cases were considered. From this search, 9 relevant cases were identified and were included in a brief review of the literature, of which 5 cases were females. The ages of the patients ranged from 5 to 17 years. The right thyroid lobe was involved in 4 patients, and bilateral involvement was reported in 1 case. Tumors were multifocal in 7 patients, and lymph nodes were involved in 8 patients. A total of 7 cases were of conventional variation, and distant metastases were reported in 4 cases, all of which were in the lungs. Total thyroidectomy was performed for all the cases. As demonstrated herein, papillary thyroid carcinoma in prepubertal children is uncommon. Total thyroidectomy may provide good long‑term outcomes.

View Figures

View References

1	Martucci C, Crocoli A, De Pasquale MD, Spinelli C, Strambi S, Brazzarola P, Morelli E, Cassiani J, Mancera J, Luengas JP, et al: Thyroid cancer in children: A multicenter international study highlighting clinical features and surgical outcomes of primary and secondary tumors. Front Pediatr. 10(914942)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
2	Tirkaso BH, Mulugeta GA, Belete TD and Melak MM: Papillary thyroid carcinoma in an 8-year-old Ethiopian child: A case report with literature review. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 12(2050313X241248392)2024.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
3	Szwarkowska M, Kaleta K, Jurek A, Kujdowicz M, Taczanowska-Niemczuk A, Kiszka-Wiłkojć A, Maślanka M, Górecki W, Starzyk J, Januś D, et al: Occult thyroid cancer in autoimmune thyroiditis: Lymph node ultrasound as the sole diagnostic indicator of malignancy in a pediatric case of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Children (Basel). 12(194)2025.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
4	Francis GL, Waguespack SG, Bauer AJ, Angelos P, Benvenga S, Cerutti JM, Dinauer CA, Hamilton J, Hay ID, Luster M, et al: Management guidelines for children with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 25:716–759. 2015.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
5	Abdullah HO, Abdalla BA, Kakamad FH, Ahmed JO, Baba HO, Hassan MN, Bapir R, Rahim HM, Omar DA, Kakamad SH, et al: Predatory publishing lists: A review on the ongoing battle against fraudulent actions. Barw Med J. 2:26–30. 2024.
6	Prasad S, Nassar M, Azzam AY, José FG, Jamee M, Sliman RK, Evola G, Mustafa AM, Abdullah HO, Abdalla BA, et al: CaReL guidelines: A consensus-based guideline on case reports and literature review (CaReL). Barw Med J. 2:13–19. 2024.
7	Tessler FN, Middleton WD, Grant EG, Hoang JK, Berland LL, Teefey SA, Cronan JJ, Beland MD, Desser TS, Frates MC, et al: ACR thyroid imaging, reporting and data system (TI-RADS): White paper of the ACR TI-RADS committee. J Am Coll Radiol. 14:587–595. 2017.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
8	Otsubo R, Mussazhanova Z, Akazawa Y, Sato A, Matsuda K, Matsumoto M, Yano H, Matsuse M, Mitsutake N, Ando T, et al: Sporadic pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma harboring the ETV6/NTRK3 fusion oncogene in a 7-year-old Japanese girl: A case report and review of literature. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 31:461–467. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
9	Thirumala V, O'Souji C and Thirumala S: Bilateral pulmonary metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a 12-year-old child-A case report and review of the literature. Radiol Case Rep. 15:799–802. 2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
10	Verburg FA, Van Santen HM and Luster M: Pediatric papillary thyroid cancer: Current management challenges. Onco Targets Ther. 28:165–175. 2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
11	Choleva L and Wilkes M: Papillary Thyroid carcinoma in a pediatric patient with β-thalassemia. JCEM Case Rep. 1(luad131)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
12	Blaseg NA and Munson PD: Papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst in a pediatric patient. J Pediatr Surg Case Rep. 66(101790)2021.
13	Aladily TN, Khader M, Bustami N and Samara OA: Papillary thyroid carcinoma in a 5-year-old child, mimicking lymphoma in presentation. Avicenna J Med. 11:103–106. 2021.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
14	Soydal Ç and Özkan E: A child with papillary thyroid carcinoma: Role of radioactive iodine therapy in pediatric patients. In: Thyroid and Parathyroid Diseases: A Case-Based Guide. pp415-418, 2019.
15	Regmi PR, Amatya I, Paudel S and Kayastha P: Papillary carcinoma of thyroid in a child, rare but aggressive: A case report. Journal of Institute of Medicine Nepal. 43:102–104. 2021.
16	Shi Y, Wang Y, Zhang W, Niu K, Mao X, Feng K and Zhang Y: N6-methyladenosine with immune infiltration and PD-L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: Novel perspective to personalized diagnosis and treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 14(1153802)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Papillary thyroid cancer in prepubertal patients: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature

This article is mentioned in:

Abstract

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Related Articles