NODULAR LESIONS OF THE THYROID GLAND IN CHILDREN*

Abstract

Reports in the literature indicate that there has been considerable variation in the incidence of diseases that produce nodular goiter in children (1). Carcinomas of the thyroid gland in children have been recognized with increasing frequency, whereas benign adenomas appear to be occurring less frequently. In an effort to ascertain the relative incidence of conditions that produce nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland in children, we have reviewed the records of 130 patients 14 years of age or younger who had nodular goiter and were seen at the Mayo Clinic in the years 1908 through 1955. The subject of nodular goiter in children was reviewed by one of us (Kennedy) in 1940 (2). Pemberton and Black included information about children with nodular goiter in their report published in 1944 (3). Conditions associated with diffuse symmetrical enlargement of the thyroid gland, such as exophthalmic goiter and adolescent or colloid goiter, are not considered in our report. The data on the distribution of the 130 patients of this series according to the conditions that produced nodular goiter and according to sex are listed in Table 1, and the distribution according to year of diagnosis is shown in Figure 1.