Hanh's neck began to swell last year, but without any other symptoms, her family attributed it to weight gain. In June, when she experienced weight loss and an unusually large goiter, Dr. Nguyen Duc Tuan, Head of Pediatric Surgery at Tam Anh General Hospital, diagnosed her with thyroid cancer that had spread to lymph nodes on both sides of her neck.

Dr. Tuan collaborated with a team from the Breast - Head and Neck Surgery, Oncology, and Endocrinology departments to develop an optimal treatment plan for Hanh. She underwent surgery to remove her entire thyroid gland and the affected lymph nodes to eliminate the cancerous cells. The surgical team carefully dissected the nerves around the thyroid to preserve her voice and ensure minimal scarring. Following the surgery, Hanh recovered well without experiencing hoarseness, numbness in her hands, or shortness of breath. She continues to take radioactive iodine to prevent recurrence.

Dr. Tuan (right) and the surgical team operating on the patient. Photo: Thanh Luan

Dr. Tuan (right) and the surgical team operating on the patient. Photo: Thanh Luan

Dr. Tuan explained that during puberty, a child's body develops rapidly. If a child has thyroid cancer, the cancer cells also grow quickly (within 3-6 months). In adults, it takes 6-12 months, or even years, for thyroid cancer to metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes. If not detected and treated promptly, the disease can spread to the supraclavicular lymph nodes, lungs, bones, and brain, making treatment more difficult and affecting the prognosis.

Thyroid cancer in children often presents no clear symptoms, and many cases are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Parents should ensure their children have regular health checkups, especially during puberty. If a child shows signs of neck swelling, or a lump that moves when swallowing, immediate medical attention is crucial as this could indicate lymph node metastasis.

According to the Global Cancer Organization (Globocan), thyroid cancer was the 6th most common cancer in Vietnam in 2022, primarily affecting people aged 40-70. In the past 5 years, Tam Anh Hospital has successfully treated three children with thyroid cancer, the youngest being an 8-year-old boy.

Hoai Thuong

*The patient's name has been changed.