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Sonographic assessment of congenitally hypothyroid children in Iran

Mohsen Hoseini1, Ali Hekmatnia, Mahin Hashemipour

  • 1Department of Radiology, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Iran.

Endokrynologia Polska
|November 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Ultrasonography identified thyroid dysgenesis in 19.9% of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) cases in Isfahan. This study suggests iodine deficiency is unlikely to be the cause of high CH prevalence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) presents a significant public health concern, particularly in Isfahan, necessitating etiological investigations.
  • Understanding the causes of CH is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in pediatric patients within the Isfahan province.
  • To assess the role of thyroid dysgenesis and gland volume in CH.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 385 children aged 0-3 years diagnosed with CH.
  • Neck ultrasonography was employed to evaluate thyroid morphology and volume.
  • Thyroid function screening tests (TSH and T4) were recorded and correlated with ultrasonographic findings.

Main Results:

  • Ultrasonography revealed thyroid dysgenesis (agenesis, ectopy, hemiagenesis) in 19.9% of CH patients; 80.1% had normal thyroid morphology.
  • The prevalence of specific dysgenetic findings included agenesis (12.7%), hemiagenesis (5.8%), and ectopy (1.4%).
  • Significant correlations were observed between thyroid gland volume, TSH, T4 levels, and ultrasonographic findings (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Ultrasonography is a valuable tool for assessing thyroid volume in pediatric CH, despite limitations in definitively diagnosing all etiologies.
  • The low prevalence of goitrous glands suggests that iodine deficiency is unlikely to be the primary driver of the high CH rate in Isfahan.
  • Further research into other etiological factors for CH in this region is warranted.
Abstract

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