Ultrasonography-based reference values for the cross-sectional area of the thyroid gland in children and adolescents: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Haruka Ejiri; Mahiro Asano; Nana Nakahata; Satoshi Suzuki; Ayako Sato; Natsuki Nagamine; Chisato Takahashi; Yukie Yamaya; Manabu Iwadate; Takashi Matsuzuka; Tetsuya Ohira; Seiji Yasumura; Satoru Suzuki; Fumihiko Furuya; Hiroki Shimura; Shinichi Suzuki; Susumu Yokoya; Hitoshi Ohto; Kenji Kamiya

doi:10.1297/cpe.2022-0057

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Ultrasonography-based reference values for the cross-sectional area of the thyroid gland in children and adolescents: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Haruka Ejiri, Mahiro Asano, Nana Nakahata, Satoshi Suzuki, Ayako Sato, Natsuki Nagamine, Chisato Takahashi, Yukie Yamaya, Manabu Iwadate, Takashi Matsuzuka, Tetsuya Ohira, Seiji Yasumura, Satoru Suzuki, Fumihiko Furuya, Hiroki Shimura, Shinichi Suzuki, Susumu Yokoya, Hitoshi Ohto, Kenji Kamiya

Author information

Haruka Ejiri
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Mahiro Asano
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Nana Nakahata
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Satoshi Suzuki
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Thyroid and Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Ayako Sato
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Natsuki Nagamine
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Chisato Takahashi
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Yukie Yamaya
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Manabu Iwadate
Department of Surgery, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
Takashi Matsuzuka
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Asahi University, Gifu, Japan
Tetsuya Ohira
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Seiji Yasumura
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Satoru Suzuki
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Thyroid and Endocrinology, Division of Internal Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
Fumihiko Furuya
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Thyroid and Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Hiroki Shimura
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Shinichi Suzuki
Department of Thyroid Therapeutic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Susumu Yokoya
Thyroid and Endocrine Center, Fukushima Global Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Hitoshi Ohto
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Kenji Kamiya
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Keywords: thyroid volume, area, child, ultrasonography, health survey

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: 2022-0057

DOI https://doi.org/10.1297/cpe.2022-0057

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 32 (2023), No. 1 pp. 52-57

Details

Abstract

We previously described the thyroid volume, which was calculated by measuring the thyroid width, thickness, and longitudinal length using ultrasonography, in children and adolescents. We have proposed a simplified method for quantitatively assessing the thyroid size, to overcome the inaccuracy and challenges in measuring the longitudinal length of the thyroid. Based on measurements of 317,847 (girls: 156,913, boys: 160,934) children and adolescents, we calculated sex-specific means and standard deviations of thyroid width and thickness, and of the cross-sectional area computed by multiplying them, for every age and 0.1 m² of body surface area, after ensuring normal distribution with Box–Cox transformation. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that female sex, age, and body surface area were independently associated with areas of each thyroid lobe. Our novel method may be useful in quantitatively assessing the thyroid size, and appropriately diagnosing pathological conditions, such as hypoplasia, atrophy, and enlargement of the thyroid gland, in children and adolescents.

Corresponding author

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