Ultrasonographic assessment of thyroid volume in Delhi children.
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.
Bakshi
Dinkar
D
Department of Paediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, India. dinkarbakshi@rediffmail.com
Seth
A
A
Narula
M K
MK
Shankar
R
R
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
D007455:Iodine