Children with congenital hypothyroidism have similar neuroradiological abnormal findings as healthy ones.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the neuroradiological findings of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) compared to healthy controls (HC).


METHODS
Thirty children with CHT, mean age 12.5 ± 1.6 years, 14 (44.8%) males, were compared with 38 HC mean age 11.7 ± 1.7 years, 16 (45.7%) males. Clinical data were collected from medical charts and questionnaires seeking information on family history, birth and perinatal period events, medications, and overall health history. Neurocognitive function was assessed for global intelligence, visual and verbal memory, and executive functioning using standardized tests. Neuroimaging was performed using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging and assessed by two pediatric radiologists.


RESULTS
Children with CHT had a similar proportion of incidental findings as did the children in the HC group, at 43.3% and 39.5%, respectively, P = 0.69. Abnormalities of the sellar region were reported in 13.3% of CHT group and 7.9% of HC group, P = 0.46. Other incidental findings included cerebellar ectopia, choroidal fissure and pineal cysts, and multiple increased signal intensity foci. Neuroradiological findings were not associated with clinical and neurocognitive abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroimaging of children with CHT demonstrated a similar incidence of structural abnormalities as in the healthy population. There is no association between those findings and neurocognitive function.
Pediatric Endocrinology Service, Division of Pediatric, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Zerifin 70300, Israel ; Division of Endocrinology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1X8.
Marianna
M
Rachmiel
Susanne
S
Blaser
Elysa
E
Widjaja
Joanne
J
Rovet
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011859:Radiography