Diagnostic approach in children with short stature

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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Wilma Oostdijk1, Floor K Grote, Sabine M P F de Muinck Keizer-Schrama

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.oostdijk@lumc.nl

Hormone Research
|September 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Establishing clear referral criteria is crucial for early detection of pathological growth failure. Evidence-based guidelines offer approximately 80% sensitivity for identifying growth disorders, guiding further clinical and laboratory assessments.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

  • Early detection of pathological causes of growth failure requires standardized referral criteria.
  • Existing guidelines for referral are based on consensus or evidence-based approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review published guidelines for referring patients with growth failure.
  • To outline key clinical, radiological, and laboratory assessments for diagnosing growth disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of consensus-based and evidence-based referral guidelines.
  • Analysis of medical history and physical examination findings.
  • Listing of specific investigations based on clinical suspicion.

Main Results:

  • Evidence-based guidelines demonstrate approximately 80% sensitivity with a 2% false-positive rate.
  • Clinical assessment, hand/wrist X-rays, and laboratory screening are standard investigations.
  • Limited scientific evidence exists for specific laboratory screening components.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized referral criteria and comprehensive assessments are vital for diagnosing pathological growth failure.
  • Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base for laboratory screening in growth disorders.

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