title: Ultrasonographic assessment of thyroid volume in Delhi children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasonographic measurement of thyroid volume is increasingly being used to assess prevalence of iodine deficiency in a community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess thyroid volume by ultrasonography in normal Delhi children, and compare them with the recently adopted WHO reference standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and three children aged of 6-10 years were enrolled from the paediatric outpatient clinic in a prospective study. Thyroid volume was estimated by ultrasound, and urinary iodine levels were measured for all subjects by spot urine samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Goitre prevalence was 24.3% on clinical assessment. Urinary iodine levels fell in the range of mild to moderate deficiency in 61% of the children. None of the children met the WHO recommended ultrasonographic criteria for goitre (thyroid volume >97th percentile of the reference standards), when WHO age-specific norms were used for comparison. On applying body surface area (BSA)-specific norms, only two children were classified as having goitre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WHO standards for thyroid volume by ultrasonography tended to underestimate goitre prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, India. dinkarbakshi@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Dinkar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakshi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shankar
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007455:Iodine / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine