Recurrence and survival for patients with thyroid carcinoma in the pediatric age group in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: Retrospective analysis of a multicentre cohort

Objectives: Pediatric thyroid cancer represents 2.3% of thyroid cancers, and its long-term outcome data are sparse. There have not been studies in the UAE delineating its epidemiology, clinical and histological characteristics, and follow-up outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical-pathological behavior, recurrence and survival rates in pediatrics with all types of thyroid cancer in the UAE. Methods: Multicentre retrospective chart review analysis of pediatric patients with thyroid carcinoma from January 2010 to December 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Results: Thirty-four patients were included, 85% being females. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was the commonest type of thyroid cancer (88%) vs. follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (11.8%). Almost half of our patients had a multifocal disease, 26% had lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and 21% had extrathyroidal extension (ETE). There were no mortalities during follow-up. 85% of patients exhibited complete remission, while 15% of patients showed evidence of progressive residual or recurrent disease. One patient had metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs. Conclusions: There were similar trends of incidence, sex prevalence, and histopathological patterns as the ones observed internationally. Potential risk factors in our population include a family history of thyroid cancer and obesity. The lower rate of ETE, LVI, metastasis, and recurrence indicates a possibly less aggressive disease.