Thyroid disease in children and adolescents with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS)

Conclusion: Thyroid disease is common in children with PHTS. Physicians caring for patients with early thyroid abnormalities and additional syndromal features should be aware of PHTS as a potentially underlying disorder. Ultrasound screening should be performed immediately after diagnosis of PHTS and repeated yearly or more frequently. Because of possible early cancer development, we recommend early surgical intervention in the form of total thyroidectomy in cases of suspicious ultrasound findings.What is Known:•PHTS patients are at high risk of developing benign and malignant tumors.•Individual cases of thyroid carcinoma in children have been reported.What is New:•Thyroid disease is even more common in children with PHTS (75%) than previously expected.•Frequently thyroid disease is the first organ pathology requiring diagnostic workup and therefore children with PHTS should be examined for thyroid disease right after diagnosis and receive follow-up on a regular basis throughout life.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research