Thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis is more frequently observed in girls with Turner's syndrome (TS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate prevalence, etiology, karyotype distribution and age at onset of thyroid pathology in girls with TS. Data recorded in 84 girls with TS attending our clinic were analyzed. The mean age +/- standard deviation [SD] at their initial evaluation was 10.3 +/- 3.7 years (range, 0.5 to 19 years) and the mean period of observation was 8.4 +/- 4.4 years. The thyroid function had been evaluated at least once per year in all patients and thyroid autoantibodies (ATA) were available in 51 (60.7%). Hypothyroidism was detected in 24% of the studied subjects and hyperthyroidism in 2.5%. Elevated values of thyroid autoantibodies were detected in 42% of girls with TS, whose ATA had been determined, and 65% had hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was first noted after the age of 8 years with no difference in the distribution of new cases at the different ages or pubertal stages. There was no difference in the incidence of thyroid dysfunction related to the type of karyotype abnormality. Thyroid dysfunction is more frequently encountered in girls with TS (hypothyroidism: 24% in the total group and 65% in those with positive ATA, hyperthyroidism: 2.5%). Thyroid dysfunction was observed after the age of 8 years with no difference in the occurrence of new cases in the various age groups thereafter. Hence, thyroid function should be evaluated yearly in girls with TS past the age of 8 years and more frequently in those with positive thyroid autoantibodies.

These findings demonstrate that thyroid antibody positivity in children was significantly associated with maternal autoimmunity and their development in girls emerges at puberty. Since heredity, female gender, and puberty are strongly associated with TA, girls in families with TA should be examined at the onset of puberty.

In healthy Greek children living in an iodine-replete area, the main determinants of TV in both boys and girls were age, BSA, and pubertal stage. The prevalence of goiter was 3.2% and that of altered echostructure was 9.2%.

Background: During gestation, the primordial thymus migrates from the pharynx to the anterior mediastinum, thus thymic tissue can remain at any point along this path. Intrathyroidal thymic remnants are rare, and their sonographic patterns have only recently been described. This retrospective study presents the sonographic appearance of ectopic intrathyroidal thymus and emphasizes the role of sonography in order to avoid misdiagnosis. Methods: The population consisted of 42 children, 3.5-14 years old, who had a thyroid sonogram performed due to a positive family history or symptoms indicative of thyroid disease, and ectopic intrathyroidal thymus was recognized. Results: In all patients, the same pattern was revealed: a fusiform intrathyroidal lesion, with no mass effect, homogeneously hypoechoic, with diffuse bright internal echoes. The similarity to the characteristic sonographic pattern of the normal mediastinal thymus was crucial for the diagnosis of ectopic intrathyroidal thymic tissue. In 8 cases, a normal elongated thymus was found connected to the thyroid with an accessory lobe embedded in the lower thyroid pole. The above sonographic appearances mimicked a thyroid nodule. Conclusions: Awareness of the sonographic patterns of the ectopic intrathyroidal thymus is mandatory to avoid misdiagnosis. In most cases, further investigation is unnecessary, but sonographic follow-up should be recommended.

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