Secondary thyroid carcinoma after treatment for childhood cancer

Background Second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) have become a primary concern in evaluating long-term effects of treatment in pediatric oncology. Thyroid carcinoma has proven to be a common SMN. Methods. In a multicenter study involving 58 hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 18 of 239 (7.5%) SMNs documented following first malignant neoplasm (FMN) in childhood were thyroid carcinoma. Results. The age at diagnosis of FMN ranged from 1 to 15 years. Eleven patients were female. Six children had survived Hodgkin disease, seven acute leukemia, two Ewing sarcoma and three various other tumors. Fifteen of the 18 patients had been treated with radiotherapy to the head and neck region. The t…