A prospective study of 289 normal fetal thyroids was undertaken between 20 and 36 weeks of gestation in 289 mothers without any history of thyroid disease or maternal disease that could cause intrauterine growth restriction. The fetal thyroid volume was calculated by the ellipsoid equation, with the assumption that each lobe was an ellipse. A nomogram relating fetal thyroid volume to gestational age was established. The mean fetal thyroid volume was found to be 0.23 +/- 0.18 cm3 (median 0.17 cm3; range 0.022-0.85 cm3). The ratio of fetal thyroid volume to estimated fetal weight (V/W ratio) (at 0.163 +/- 0.079 cm3/kg) was constant throughout gestation. The value was smaller than those of the child and the adult reported in other studies, indicating that fetal thyroid enlargement is likely to be underestimated if based on postnatal criteria. It was found that the mean fetal thyroid volume was significantly correlated with estimated fetal weight and gestational age, in which the former dominated the effect. The fetal thyroid increased in size much faster after 32 weeks, suggesting that evaluation of possible fetal goiter should take into account gestational age and the nomogram developed in this study.

Background This study was done to investigate the size of normal retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) and the incidence of retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in patients with nasopharyngyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Forty‐four NPC patients who had not yet received treatment and 20 control subjects underwent MRI scanning. The number and the maximum diameter of the short axis of the cervical lymph nodes were measured. The number of nasopharyngeal walls involved and the maximum diameter of the tumor were recorded. Results In 5 of 20 control subjects lateral RLN were identified; none of these nodes was greater than 2.5 mm. In the NPC patients, taking 4 mm as the upper limit of normal RLN, 89% of the patients had enlarged RLN. The number of nasopharyngeal walls involved and the maximum diameter of the primary tumor showed no statistical relationship with the involvement of RLN. There was a statistical association between RLN and level II node involvement, but not with other groups of neck nodes. Conclusion Of all patients with NPC, 89% showed enlarged RLN. Its involvement was related to level II nodes but not to the number of nasopharyngeal sites involved nor with the maximum diameter of the tumor. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 19: 176–181, 1997.

SummaryGiant hydronephrosis in adults is uncommon and often misdiagnosed clinically. We present three cases of giant hydronephrosis in adults secondary to ureteric calculous obstruction, two of whom presented with an acute abdomen and one with an indirect inguinal hernia. All patients were diagnosed promptly with ultrasound.

In children 8-12 years old, BMI gives a good estimation of the total body fat as measured on MRI. The estimation will be improved when both BEI and BMI are used in the prediction. Bioelectrical impedance has a low correlation with total body fat and its use alone in estimating total body fat is not recommended. Skinfold measurement also gives a reasonably good prediction of total body fat and addition of BMI and BEI does not improve the prediction. Both BEI and skinfold measurements give a modest prediction of %body fat measured by MRI method.