Quick Facts About Pediatric Thyroid Cancer

Learn more in the Pediatric section of our site, and in the resources linked from it. 

Pediatric means age 18 or younger, notes the American Thyroid Association Guidelines on Pediatric Thyroid Cancer. 

• Thyroid cancer is much more common in adolescents than in younger children.
• 1.8% of thyroid cancers occur in young people under age 20.
• Pediatric thyroid cancer cases have increased in recent years.
• Papillary thyroid cancer accounts for 90% or more of pediatric thyroid cancer. • Follicular thyroid cancer is uncommon in this age group.
• Medullary thyroid cancer, poorly differentiated thyroid cancer, and undifferentiated (anaplastic) thyroid cancer are all rare in young people.