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| Prenatal Sonographic Measurement of the Fetal Thyroid Gland |
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| Young Cheol Ahn, M.D., Young Hwa Kim, M.D., Won Soo Cho, M.D., Won Kyung Bae, M.D., Il Young Kim, M.D. |
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| Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chunan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University |
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| PURPOSE : To investigate whether the fetal thyroid gland could be examined by prenatal ultrasonography and to establish
the normal range of fetal thyroid width according to the gestational age.
MATERIALS and METHODS : The width of the fetal thyroid was determined by prenatal ultrasonography from 118
pregnant women. Three of the mothers had current or previous thyroid disease and the widths of the fetal thyroid
were determined from 115 normal subjects. The width of the fetal thyroid was defined by a maximum transverse
distance of the thyroid gland between two carotid arteries on transverse scan of the fetal neck. We analysed
the causes of non-measurable cases. The width of the fetal thyroid and Neo-TSH were compared in 19 subjects,
including 3 subjects with current or previous thyroid disease.
RESULTS : We could measure the fetal thyroid widths in 95 cases(80%). The fetal thyroid widths of mothers without
current or previous thyroid disease was 0.9 - 2.36cm, which showed linear correlation with gestational age
(Y=0.0506X + 0.0439, r2=0.5661). Causes of non-measurable cases were neck flexion(65%), prone position(
22%), and overlapped fetal neck by arm or shoulder(13%). Of the 19 neonates with Neo-TSH level, one
case had a mother with a thyroid disease and showed increased width of the fetal and high Neo-TSH.
CONCLUSION : The fetal thyroid was measured in 80% of prenatal ultrasonography and the width of the fetal thyroid
showed linear correlation with gestational age. We assumed that the width of the fetal thyroid could be useful for
diagnosing fetal thyroid disorder when maternal thyroid disease exists. |
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| Keyword : Thyroid, US; Fetus, endocrine glands |
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pdf파일 : K20200065.pdf 
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> Journal > Journal Search 
Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2001 ; 20 (1) : p.65 - 69
