Thyroid disease does occur in the pediatric patient, and imaging plays an important role in its evaluation. A review is presented of normal development of the thyroid gland, the technique and indications for thyroid sonography, and key imaging features of congenital thyroid disorders (ectopic or absent thyroid, infantile goiter, thyroglossal duct remnants), benign thyroid masses (follicular adenoma, degenerative nodules, colloid and thyroid cysts), malignant masses (follicular, papillary and medullary carcinoma) and diffuse thyroid disease (acute bacterial thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Grave's disease).
Palpable breast masses are rare in the male pediatric patient and sonography is the primary imaging modality. The overwhelming majority of these cases are adolescent boys presenting with gynecomastia. Other diagnoses such as galactocele(s), hemangiomas, and ductal ectasia should be considered when young male patients present with a palpable mass. Malignant breast lesions are rare and are likely to be metastatic or primary tumors of non-breast tissue origin.
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