Thyroid Carcinoma in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy
This study aims to define the optimal surveillance strategy for children exposed to radiotherapy by assessing the incidence, risk factors, and timing of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. It also investigates the genetic features of thyroid tumors in this population to identify predictive biomarkers of onset, malignancy, and aggressiveness. Ultimately, the goal is to support more personalized management, including tailored surgery and targeted therapies.
⁃ For the group of oncologic patients who underwent radiotherapy:
• Radiotherapy for an oncologic condition performed between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2018;
• Age at the time of radiotherapy \< 18 years;
• Follow-up of at least 4 years conducted at the Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases Program, Pediatric Unit, IRCCS AOU Bologna;
• Obtained informed consent
⁃ For the group of subjects not exposed to radiotherapy and without specific risk factors for DTC:
• No history of exposure to ionizing radiation;
• No specific risk factors for DTC (autoimmune thyroiditis, familial forms, genetic syndromes);
• Thyroid ultrasound performed between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2018, at the Nuclear Medicine Unit of IRCCS AOU Bologna;
• Age at the time of the thyroid ultrasound \< 18 years;
• Obtained informed consent