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[Sonography of the thyroid gland in children]
V Klingmüller1, C Fiedler, A Otten
1Röntgenabteilung Pädiatrie, Medizinisches Zentrum für Radiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen.
Insights
Thyroid gland volume increases with age in children, with no significant sex difference in volume relative to body surface area. This study discusses common thyroid disorders in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Thyroid imaging
- Developmental biology
Context:
- Thyroid gland volume is a key indicator of normal development and function in children.
- Understanding normative thyroid volume is crucial for diagnosing various thyroid pathologies.
- Previous studies have established reference ranges, but continuous data across age groups and normalized to body surface area are valuable.
Purpose:
- To establish normative data for total thyroid volume (TTV) in relation to age and body surface area (BSA) in a pediatric population.
- To provide reference ranges for TTV in newborns, children, and adolescents.
- To contextualize these normative findings within the discussion of common pediatric thyroid disorders.
Summary:
- Newborn thyroid gland volume averages 1.2 ccm in males and 1.0 ccm in females.
- Thyroid volume increases with age, reaching approximately 7.4-7.5 ccm in adolescents (13-16 years).
- The ratio of total thyroid volume to body surface area shows no significant sex difference, averaging 4.5-4.8 ccm/sqm in newborns and around 4.8 ccm/sqm in children over 9 years.
- Common thyroid disorders including cysts, nodules with echo-free centers, congenital hypothyroidism (athyreosis), and goiter are discussed in relation to these volumetric findings.
Impact:
- Provides essential normative data for pediatric thyroid volume assessment, aiding in the early detection and diagnosis of thyroid abnormalities.
- Enhances the accuracy of interpreting thyroid ultrasound findings in children by considering age and body size.
- Contributes to a better understanding of thyroid development and potential deviations in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The total volume of the thyroid gland is 1.2/1.0 ccm in male/female newborns; it increases with age up to 7.4 ccm in boys and 7.5 ccm in girls (13-16 years). The relation of total thyroid volume and body surface area is without a significant sex difference 4.5/4.8 ccm/sqm in newborn and about 4.8 ccm/sqm in children aged more than 9 years. Thyroid disorders to be discussed are a cyst, a nodule with an echo-free centre, connatal athyreosis and goitre.