Risk-adapted therapy in pediatric thyroid cancer: initial experience from a national reference program by the MET group.

BACKGROUND

Pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma (pedDTC) is rare but increasingly prevalent, requiring multidisciplinary care to ensure optimal outcomes. In 2021, the pediatric national reference program of the German Malignant Endocrine Tumor (MET) registry was established to standardize the management of pedDTC, with a particular focus on radioactive iodine (RAI) use and minimizing treatment variability.

METHODS

This study evaluated the program's first 3.5 years, including 43 inquiries concerning 39 patients with confirmed or suspected pedDTC. A weekly national expert tumor board provided individualized recommendations based on multidisciplinary input and risk stratification. Data were analyzed for demographic trends, therapeutic decisions, and short-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 34 patients with confirmed pedDTC, RAI use was reduced or omitted in 70.6% of cases, particularly among low-risk patients, in alignment with the American Thyroid Association 2015 guidelines. Surgical strategies were modified in 61.5% of cases to balance disease control with treatment-related morbidity. No systemic medical therapy was recommended during initial management. At a mean follow-up of 0.7 years, all patients were alive; persistent disease was observed in 15.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The national reference program has successfully introduced a structured, individualized approach to the management of pedDTC in Germany. Ongoing data collection and longer follow-up will be essential to assess the long-term impact of this centralized, risk-adapted model.