Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 11, Issue 1 25-28, Copyright © 1992 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The fetal thyroid: normal and abnormal sonographic measurements
B. Bromley, F. D. Frigoletto Jr, D. Cramer, R. Osathanondh and B. R. Benacerraf
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
The thyroid of 31 fetuses at low risk for perinatal thyroid disease were
evaluated sonographically. The transverse width and circumference of the
fetal thyroid was measured prospectively to provide normative values for
each gestational age. In addition, the thyroid of 23 fetuses at risk for
thyroid disease were examined sonographically and compared to the control
group. At birth, 18 of the neonates had no evidence of thyroid dysfunction,
whereas 5 newborns had goiters and abnormal thyroid function. The fetal
thyroid measurements for these 5 neonates were above the upper limit of the
95% confidence interval compared to the control group. The other 18 fetuses
in the group at risk for thyroid disease but without evidence of thyroid
dysfunction at birth had fetal thyroid measurement within the normal range.
