[Analysis of the diagnosis process in short stature]

to analyze the diagnosis process of short stature.

a retrospective, observational and analytical study in pediatric patients (age 0-17 years), who were referred with suspected diagnosis of short height was conducted. Descriptive and the kappa index statically measures were done to establish the diagnostic agreement between physicians who perform the reference and pediatric endocrinologists.

from a total of 341 patients referred only 78 patients met the selection criteria for our study. The basic protocol of study had to be completed by endocrinologists in 64 % of cases; the average duration of the entire diagnostic process (from the date of reference to endocrinologist until definitive diagnosis was issued) averaged 196 days. Final diagnoses were: pathological short stature (45 %), normal variants of growth (46 %) and normal growth (9 %). The diagnostic concordance between doctors who performed the reference and pediatric endocrinologists, determined using the kappa was 0.40 statistically significant (p < 0.001).

we recommend that primary care physicians must follow a protocol of study, in order to determine whether it is a normal variant of growth or short stature.