Title:Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Pediatric Age: An Example of a Rare Tumour Managed Within a Cooperative Comprehensive Project
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Author(s): Giovanna Sironi, Andrea Ferrari, Marta Podda, Stefano Chiaravalli, Gianni Bisogno, Giovanni Cecchetto and Maura Massimino
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Children, EXPeRT, rare tumours, TREP, thyroid carcinoma.
Abstract: Though rare in childhood, thyroid cancers represent the most frequent tumours
of endocrine glands in childhood and adolescence. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a nonmedullary,
follicular-derived differentiated tumour of the thyroid. There is still controversy
concerning the therapeutic approach to be adopted of PTCs in the paediatric population,
regarding the extent of the surgical approach, and the need for radioactive iodine (RAI)
therapy. The cooperative TREP project (Tumori Rari in Età Pediatrica [Rare Tumours in
Paediatric Age]) was launched in Italy in 2000 (under the patronage of AIEOP - Associazione
Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica) with a view to improving both researches
on the clinical management of the less common paediatric cancers. The aim of the project
is to merge clinical data and elaborate diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for everyone
of these rare tumours within a single framework: of course papillary thyroid carcinoma
have been analysed in the TREP project. The cooperative model of TREP led to the
establishment of a larger cooperative group, EXPeRT (European Cooperative Study Group
for Pediatric Rare Tumors), seeking to create collaboration and communication within
European members. EXPeRT aims to promote clinical and biological research in paediatric
rare tumours by strengthening collaboration between the founder national groups and international
partners. The studies have demonstrated that international cooperation in childhood
rare tumours is not only achievable, but may be of great advantage.
