RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Thyroid cancer represents 2% of all childhood malignances. Its incidence rises 1.1% per year. In comparison with adults, childhood thyroid cancer is detected in a more advanced stage, but with a survival rate above 95%. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are factors associated with advanced stages of thyroid cancer in pediatric patients. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included, 13 (68.4%) were female and six male, all between 7-15 years, with a median of 11 years. Fifteen in advanced and four in early stage. The median age of patients in advanced stage at time of diagnosis was 10.6 years (7-15) and 13.2 (12-14) were in early stage (p=0.075). There was a delay of nine months to get a diagnosis in advanced stage, and 7.2 in early stage (p=0.931). Three of the patients with advanced stage and two with early stage were from Nuevo León (Mexico) and the rest were foreign (p=0.567). In the group with advanced stage, two had thyroid cancer familiar history, and none in the early stage group (p=0.452). Nine patients in advanced stage and three in early stage presented thyroid nodule as the first sign of illness. Six patients in advanced stage and one in early stage presented goiter (p=0.590). None of the studied patients had radiation history. Six patients in advanced stage and one in early stage suffered from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (p=0.590). Eleven in advanced stage and one in early stage had papillary histologic variety. Four in advanced stage and three in early stage had papillary histologic variety with a follicular patter (p=0.083). Eight patients presented lung metastasis at time of diagnosis (p=0.061). CONCLUSIONS: There are no factors associated with advanced stage thyroid cancer in pediatric populations. Although half of studied patients presented lung metastasis, treatment response and survival is satisfactory.