Autonomous Thyroid Adenoma: Only an Adulthood Disease?

We identified somatic activating thyrotropin-receptor gene mutations within autonomous thyroid nodules (ATN) in 2 girls with 1 ATN and in 1 girl with 3 ATN. A fourth patient had a somatic activating gene mutation of the alpha-subunit of the stimulating G-protein in 2 ATN. Activating somatic mutations in ATN can cause non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism in children. (J Pediatr 2009;154:931-3)