Lobectomy or total thyroidectomy in pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis

jpedsurg.org

Thyroid cancer in pediatric patients is distinct from adult-onset thyroid cancer due to differences in disease presentation, management and outcomes. This meta-analysis delves into contemporary data on managing pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), assessing outcomes, such as recurrence and mortality, in children with radical total thyroidectomy versus the more conservative lobectomy approach.

jpedsurg.org shows its articles on its own site.

Read the article on jpedsurg.org ↗

Article · Sep 2025 · 1 min read

In brief

This systematic review compares surgical approaches for pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer, evaluating recurrence and mortality outcomes between total thyroidectomy and lobectomy. The analysis addresses the unique clinical considerations in pediatric thyroid malignancy management.

Pediatric thyroid cancer differs from adult disease in presentation, management, and outcomes—requiring age-specific treatment strategies.
Total thyroidectomy vs. lobectomy remains a key surgical decision point in pediatric DTC, balancing radicality with morbidity.
Recurrence and mortality rates differ between surgical approaches; meta-analysis data can guide individualized surgical planning.
Conservative lobectomy may be appropriate in select pediatric DTC cases, challenging the historical default of total thyroidectomy.
Contemporary evidence supports tailoring surgical extent to tumor characteristics and patient factors rather than one-size-fits-all resection.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.

Read it at the source ↗