Recent reports indicate that there is an increasing total incidence of surgical thyroid disorders in adults. A similar trend has also been observed in children and adolescents. Because there is considerable variation in the incidence of diseases that produce goiter, most publications rarely consider more than 1 or 2 of the goiter-producing conditions, i.e., carcinoma and thyroiditis.
In an effort to ascertain the relative occurrence and incidence of individual disorders that produce enlargement of the thyroid gland in childhood and adolescence, we have undertaken a clinical-pathological assessment of patients 18 years of age or younger who have had surgical thyroidectomy at The University of Michigan Medical Center. In addition, using our patients as a basis, a brief review of major goitrous conditions in this age group is presented.
Methods and Materials
Eighteen years of age has been elected as the upper limit for this study. This represents a compromise, since