Oleg Latyshev

Papillary thyroid cancer in an adolescent with a toxic single nodular goiter

The rate of nodular goiter in children ranges from 0.05 to 5.1%; in this case, the risk of thyroid cancer in childhood amounts to 3―70% of all cases of thyroid pathology. Therefore, the main issue is the differential diagnosis of a nosological variant of a thyroid nodule, which defines the optimal therapeutic tactics for a particular patient. The risk of malignancy is traditionally believed to be low in the case of decompensated functional autonomy of a thyroid nodule; therefore, the need for fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) followed by cytomorphological analysis of the aspirate is avoided in most cases. The presented clinical case demonstrates papillary cancer in an adolescent with a toxic single nodular goiter. A thyroid ultrasound examination revealed a nodular lesion in the boy. An increase in the thyroid size and thyrotoxicosis manifestation occurred 3 years later. A cytomorphological study identified follicular neoplasia; scintigraphy revealed a hot nodule. Surgical treatment was planned. Antithyroid therapy was prescribed to prepare for surgery. After compensation of thyrotoxicosis, hemithyroidectomy was performed. A histological examination diagnosed papillary thyroid cancer, which required repeated thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine I 131 ablation. The postoperative period was uneventful; the patient well tolerated suppressive levothyroxine therapy. Therefore, the presence of a toxic single nodular goiter does not exclude thyroid cancer, which defines the need to discuss the indications for FNAB of thyroid nodules in children.

Growth and sexual retardation in a boy with celiac disease

Growth and sexual retardation in boys can be caused by both endocrine and somatogenic causes. One of the somatogenic causes of growth and puberty retardation is celiac disease that is a genetic disorder of the small intestine, which is associated with deficiency of enzymes breaking down the gluten peptide. The clinical picture of celiac disease may be dominated by gastrointestinal manifestations (diarrhea, recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, appetite disorders) and nonspecific symptoms (irritability, apathy, physical and sexual retardation, impaired reproductive function, anemia, etc.). We present a case of late diagnosis of celiac disease in a 15-year-old boy with physical (height SDS, −4.1; bone age SDS, −8.2) and sexual (Tanner 1) retardation. The negative results of gonadoliberin (max LH, 2 mIU/mL) and chorionic gonadotropin (Δ-testosterone, 2,3 nmol/L) tests indicated the lack of activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal system. However, inhibin B (29.9 pg/mL) and anti-Mullerian hormone (43.8 ng/mL) levels indicated preservation of the reserve capabilities of this system. During follow-up, after treatment with a gluten-free diet for 10 months, the patient demonstrated an improved growth rate (2.7 SDS), progression of the sexual development stage (Tanner 2), and positive results of diagnostic diphereline (max LH, 16.8 IU/mL) and chorionic gonadotropin (Δ-testosterone, 11.8 nmol/L) tests. This case demonstrates the need to exclude celiac disease in patients with growth and sexual retardation, especially when these pathologies are combined with protein-energy deficiency, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anemia, as well as the need to use additional indicators of the reproductive system condition in boys, e.g. inhibin B and anti-Mullerian hormone.