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Factors Affecting Thyroid Volume in Children Aged 4 to 18 Years
Nevena Folić1,2, Marko Folić3,4, Miloš N Milosavljević5
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Insights
Pediatric thyroid ultrasound volume is influenced by age, BMI, and serum creatinine. These factors are key for accurate interpretation in children aged 4-18, aiding timely diagnosis of thyroid disorders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Biometrics
Background:
- Thyroid volume measurement via ultrasound is not standard practice in children without thyroid issues.
- Understanding normal pediatric thyroid volume is crucial for early detection and management of thyroid disorders.
- This study addresses the need for normative data and influencing factors for pediatric thyroid volume.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing thyroid volume in children aged 4 to 18 years.
- To establish descriptive data for thyroid volume across this pediatric age range.
- To aid pediatricians in interpreting thyroid ultrasound measurements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, non-interventional, cross-sectional study of 100 children (aged 4-18) without diagnosed thyroid disorders.
- Utilized validated formulas incorporating organ dimensions (length, width, depth) and correction factors for thyroid volume calculation.
- Employed correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression to analyze relationships between thyroid volume and various predictors.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations found between thyroid volume and age, height, weight, BMI, body surface area, serum creatinine, birthweight, and comorbidities.
- Calcitonin showed a negative correlation with thyroid volume.
- Age, BMI, and serum creatinine were identified as significant independent positive predictors of thyroid volume.
Conclusions:
- Age, body mass index (BMI), and serum creatinine are significant independent predictors of thyroid volume in children.
- These factors are essential considerations for accurate interpretation of pediatric thyroid ultrasound measurements.
- This research provides valuable data for routine pediatric thyroid assessments.
Background And Objectives:
Ultrasound measurement of thyroid volume is not routinely performed in children without suspected thyroid disorders. However, pediatricians must be aware of the normal thyroid volume values in children in order to recognize and treat thyroid disorders in children on time. Therefore, this study aimed to explore factors that influence thyroid volume in children aged 4 to 18 years and to provide descriptive data on thyroid volume across this age range.
Materials And Methods:
This was a prospective, non-interventional cross-sectional study conducted on a population of children aged 4 to 18 years without confirmed thyroid disorders. We used validated formulas for calculating thyroid volume that integrate the linear dimensions of this organ, such as length, width, and depth, as well as the appropriate correction factor. The Spearman or Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the relationship between total thyroid volume and various continuous variables, while multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of potential predictors on the total thyroid volume.
Results:
The study included 100 children, predominantly girls (75.0%). Significant positive correlations with thyroid volume were found for age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body surface area, serum creatinine, birthweight, and number of comorbidities, while calcitonin was negatively correlated with children's thyroid volume. We identified age, BMI, and serum creatinine as significant independent positive predictors of thyroid volume in children.
Conclusions:
Age, BMI, and serum creatinine emerged as significant independent positive predictors of thyroid volume and should be considered when interpreting pediatric thyroid ultrasound measurements.
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