title: [Ultrasonographic estimation of the normal volume of the thyroid gland in pediatric populations].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization bases its reference standards for normal thyroid volume on values derived from measurements of European children. However, WHO recommends that normal values for each region be estimated separately, given the variability as a consequence of geographic, racial, and nutritional differences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A normal standard of thyroid volume was estimated for the pediatric population of Bogotá, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried-out in 591 children assessed at the Clínica Jorge Bejarano, Bogotá, Colombia, between January and August 2003. Children with maternal or personal history of thyroid disease and those with abnormal weight or height characteristics were excluded. Age, weight, and body surface index were recorded for each child. Thyroid volume was estimated by ultrasonography using the ellipse formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean estimated volume for each age group was as follows: 0.6 +/- 0.2 cm3 for neonates, 1.1 +/- 0.6 cubic centimeters for milk-fed babies, 2.2 +/- 1.3 cc for pre-school age children, 3.0 +/- 1.7 cc for school age children and 5.7 +/- 3.1 cc for adolescents. Thyroid volume increases with increasing body surface. A linear relationship between the natural logarithm of the thyroid volume and the square root of the body surface was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normal thyroid volume for Bogotá children was smaller than the World Health Organization reference value. Values described in the current study are recommended for local use as the normal parameter.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Radiología, Hospital de San José, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. marceladali@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Claudia Patricia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanabria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014944:World Health Organization