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Radionuclide imaging in primary permanent congenital hypothyroidism
J Verelst1, J P Chanoine, F Delange
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hôpital Saint-Pierre, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Thyroid scintigraphy effectively diagnoses congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in newborns. This imaging technique distinguishes between thyroid agenesis and ectopia, aiding in prognosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Neonatal Screening
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) requires early diagnosis for optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Neonatal thyroid screening identifies infants with CH, necessitating further investigation.
- Distinguishing between thyroid agenesis and ectopia is crucial for prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of thyroid scintigraphy in diagnosing CH in newborns.
- To assess the technical feasibility of performing thyroid scintigraphy immediately after CH diagnosis.
- To determine if scintigraphy aids in differentiating thyroid agenesis from ectopia.
Main Methods:
- Thyroid scintigraphy performed on 69 infants with confirmed CH.
- Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate tracer injected intravenously.
- Images acquired using a rectilinear scanner or gamma camera without sedation.
Main Results:
- Thyroid ectopia identified in 43 infants, agenesis in 19, and goiter in 7.
- Scintigraphy images were interpretable in all cases, including small ectopic glands.
- No interference from extra-thyroidal tracer uptake, particularly salivary glands.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid scintigraphy is technically feasible and easily performed in CH newborns at diagnosis.
- Scintigraphy is essential for differentiating thyroid agenesis from ectopia.
- Accurate diagnosis via scintigraphy contributes to better prognostic assessment and management of CH.