# Clinical–Pathological Features of Thyroid Neoplasms in Young Patients Diagnosed in a Single Center

## TL;DR

This study examines thyroid cancer in young patients, finding more aggressive tumor features compared to older patients.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific clinical-pathological features of thyroid cancer in young patients compared to older patients.

## Key findings

- Young patients had higher rates of extrathyroidal extension, locoregional nodal invasion, and lympho-vascular invasion.
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common type in young patients.
- Thyroid cancer in young people was associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and more aggressive tumor progression.

## Abstract

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical–pathological profile in young patients with thyroid cancer. Materials and methods: We realized a retrospective study on patients with thyroid neoplasms who underwent surgery at the “Pius Brinzeu” County Clinical Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. A comparative analysis of some parameters between two groups, young patients (<45 years) versus patients ≥45 years, was performed. Results: A total of 211 patients met the study inclusion criteria, mostly females (86.26%) with a female/male ratio of 6.81:1. In patients <45 years old (25.64%), papillary thyroid carcinoma was identified in 51.85% of cases; in 53.85% of cases, the tumor was >1 cm; 13.46% had extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.0430); 21.15% capsule invasion (p = 0.1756); 23.08% lympho-vascular invasion (p = 0.0048); and 13.46% of cases locoregional nodal invasion (p = 0.0092). Conclusions: Thyroid cancer in young people was associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and tumor progression parameters, identifying more cases of extrathyroidal extension, locoregional nodal invasion, lympho-vascular invasion and perineural invasion in young patients compared to older ones. For a better understanding of this pathology and to improve diagnosis and therapeutic management, more studies are needed for these patients.