Related Experiment Videos
[Sonographic volume determination of the thyroid in newborn infants]
Insights
Thyroid gland volume in newborns correlates with birth weight in iodine-deficient areas. Despite normal thyroid hormone levels, enlarged thyroid glands suggest iodine deficiency during pregnancy impacts fetal development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Diagnostic imaging
- Nutritional science
Context:
- Iodine deficiency is a prevalent issue in certain geographical regions.
- Newborn thyroid gland assessment is crucial for early detection of developmental issues.
- Sonography offers a non-invasive method for evaluating thyroid gland size.
Purpose:
- To determine thyroid gland volume in newborns in an iodine-deficient area using sonography.
- To investigate the correlation between thyroid gland volume and birth weight in neonates.
- To assess the impact of iodine deficiency on fetal thyroid development.
Summary:
- Thyroid gland volumes in 50 newborns without goiter ranged from 1.0 to 3.9 ml.
- Renal iodine excretion confirmed iodine deficiency (mean 3.32 +/- 0.34 ug J/dl).
- Thyroid gland volume positively correlated with birth weight; however, glands were relatively large for body weight, likely due to maternal iodine deficiency.
- No significant sex-based difference in thyroid volume was observed.
- Thyroid echogenicity was lower in newborns compared to older individuals.
Impact:
- Findings aid in the evaluation of congenital goiter in iodine-deficient regions.
- Highlights the need for assessing iodine status in pregnant women.
- Recommends thyroid sonography as a valuable, non-invasive pediatric diagnostic tool.
Abstract:
In 50 newborn children without a struma the volume of the thyroid gland was determined by the aid of sonography in a territory distinguishing itself by iodine deficiency. The volumes of the thyroid glands ran to 1.0 ml between 3.9 ml. The renal iodine excretion confirmed by values of 2.10 to 5.40 micrograms J/dl (the arithmetric mean = 3.32 +/- 0.34 micrograms J:dl) the situation as to iodine deficiency in our territory. The averages T4 with 150 +/- 6 nmol/l and TSH with 3.4 +/- 0.5 mE/l ranged in the standard area. The comparison of the thyroid gland volumes with the birth weight resulted in a first-hand correlation. Newborn children with a slight weight at birth showed a small volume of the thyroid gland and vice versa. Altogether, however, the thyroid gland of newborn children is--compared to body weight--too large, the cause seeming to be the known deficiency of iodine during pregnancy. A significant difference to the volume of the thyroid gland between male and female newborn children was not to be stated. The results found out may be called in to a more exact evaluation of the volume of the thyroid gland in the connatal struma still relatively often to be found in territories of iodine deficiency. The thyroid gland in newborn children is in respect to the sonogram poorer in echoes than in infancy and adulthood. The thyroid sonography--a non-invasive and a not radiation-exposed examination--is recommended to be practised especially in paediatrics.