Thyroid tumors in children.

Thyroid tumors in children continue to generate tremendous interest and controversy. Despite a frequent presentation with metastatic disease, these differentiated tumors have an excellent prognosis. Because most pediatric patients have prolonged survival, long-term follow-up is mandatory. The extent of surgery for this disease continues to be controversial. Genetic testing is changing dramatically the management of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia and will lead to further understanding of this intriguing syndrome. Over the next decade, classification of differentiated thyroid cancers by means of more clinically useful biologic markers may affect the clinical management of children with thyroid cancer.