Management of benign paediatric thyroid nodules: experience from paediatric ENT services of a tertiary care hospital

Authors

  • Arunabha Chakravarti Department of ENT, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, India
  • Sneha Chandrasekhar Department of ENT, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20211192

Keywords:

Thyroid nodule, Children, Paediatric thyroidectomy, Total-thyroidectomy

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are a common occurrence in adults but are rarely seen in children. We present here four cases of paediatric thyroid nodules. Patients were subjected to a thorough clinical evaluation, blood thyroid level testing, ultrasonography (USG) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The size of the nodules ranged from 2 cm to 7.5 cm. All four nodules were reported as “benign” on FNAC, of which three under-went total thyroidectomy owing to the bi-laterality and large size of the nodules. None of the cases had post-operative complications of hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Of the 3 patients taken up for surgery one patient was found to have papillary thyroid carcinoma. Subsequent radiological investigation showed no residual disease. All three operated cases were followed-up in the ENT outpatient department for at least 2 years and showed no signs of recurrence. One patient with a small thyroid nodule (2 cm) was managed non – surgically and has been kept on follow up since 12 months. In our experience, total thyroidectomy, even in a benign disease, in expert hands, is a safe procedure and the best management option in children with large goiter, to avoid recurrence and thereby a redo surgery.  

Author Biographies

Arunabha Chakravarti, Department of ENT, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, India

DIRECTOR PROFESSOR

Sneha Chandrasekhar, Department of ENT, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, India

JUNIOR RESIDENT

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Published

2021-03-24

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Section

Case Series