A 12-Year Male With Multiple Neck Swellings

Introduction: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common pediatric thyroid malignancy representing 85–95 % of cases. Pediatric thyroid cancers typically present as neck masses with no associated symptoms and thus come to medical attention at widely varying stages of disease progression. In contrast to adult PTC, pediatric PTC tends to be more aggressive at presentation with higher incidence of multifocality, extracapsular extension and Lymph node and distant metastasis. Although a lifetime recurrence rate is high, the mortality rates are still low. Case Report: A 12 year male presented with multiple neck swellings since 3 months and dry cough since 2 months. He was evaluated clinically, biochemically and radiologically and a diagnosis of Papillary carcinoma of thyroid with lymph node and pulmonary metastasis was made. He was subjected to total thyroidectomy with functional neck dissection and has been further planned for Radioactive iodine ablation and regular follow up. Conclusion: Palpable thyroid abnormalities in children should be viewed with suspicion and worked up for possible malignancy.