Determination of thyroid volume by ultrasound from the neonatal period to late adolescence

Abstract

The volume of the thyroid gland was determined by ultrasonography in 256 euthyroid subjects aged 0-20 years in Brussels, an area with borderline iodine intake (median urinary iodine: 6.8 micrograms/dl). The volume of each lobe was calculated separately using the formula of an ovoid (Depth x Length x Width x pi/6). The total thyroid volume was obtained by summation of the volume of both lobes. In neonates, mean volume (SD) was 0.84 (0.38) ml and the distribution was asymmetric, skewed towards elevated values (median: 0.76 ml); the volume was best correlated with body surface area (P less than 0.01). Thyroid volume significantly increased (P less than 0.001) until the age of 8 without being influenced by sex and thereafter varied widely: it increased from 2.7 (0.8) ml in prepubertal subjects aged 8-11 years to 11.6 (4.4) ml in late pubertal aged greater than 17 years. This increase was significantly correlated not only with chronological age but also with pubertal stage and seemed to happen early, with the onset of the first clinical signs of puberty. At all ages, the volume of the right lobe was slightly higher than the left lobe but the difference was not significant.

Local versus WHO/International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders-recommended thyroid volume reference in the assessment of iodine deficiency disorders

“…The volume was only larger in girls from the age of 9 years onwards (similar observations were made by Chanoine et al (25) and Delange et al (11)). However, sex differences in thyroid volume at age 9-10 years, although statistically significant, were not great.…”

Interobserver and intraobserver variations in sonographic measurement of thyroid volume in children

“…US measurement of thyroid volume is used in diagnosis and followup of patients, and normal US thyroid volumes in adult and pediatric age groups are published in many references and may be used as a guide to decide whether the thyroid size is normal or not (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). However, to our knowledge, no study has been performed to determine the interobserver and intraobserver variation in US measurement of thyroid volume in children.…”

“…This method is also used to determine thyroid size in both diagnosis and follow-up of patients with diseases that could affect the thyroid gland (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Normal ranges of thyroid volumes in pediatric age groups and adults have been published in many references, and may be a guide to decide whether thyroid size is normal or not (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The aim of this study was to determine the interobserver and intraobserver variation in US measurement of thyroid volume in children.…”

Should human chorionic gonadotropine treatment increase thyroid volume?

“…Several physiological and pathological factors as iodine supply, age, sex, weight, height, BMI, and body surface area can influence thyroid volume (22). Thyroid volume is reported to increase dependent to age or body surface (23). In addition to, in an iodine replete area, thyroid volume was inversely related to the median urinary iodide (24).…”