Introduction Patients with thyroid cancer in different age groups present with different prognosis.

Objective The objective of this study is to analyze the clinicopathological pattern of thyroid carcinoma presentation according to age groups.

Methods This is a retrospective study. From 2000 to 2010, 623 patients underwent thyroidectomy for cancer in our institution, with 596 enrolled. Patients were divided into groups of 10 years and then in four age subgroups (≤ 24, 25-44, 45-64, and ≥65 years) for statistical analysis. We compared age, gender, and histopathological characteristics between groups.

Results Individuals belonging to the earlier age group presented with a highest prevalence of neuro-vascular invasion, capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis. Together with individuals of advanced age, that group also had larger tumor diameter and higher prevalence of extra-glandular disease. Even when analyzed only cases with well-differentiated carcinoma, younger individuals remain with a highest prevalence of lymph node metastasis, neuro-vascular invasion and larger tumor diameter.

Conclusion We observed a distinct pattern of clinicopathological manifestation of thyroid cancer according to age. Individuals belonging to age extremes resemble in several pathological features, and young people usually present with more aggressive disease characteristics.