Causes of goiter in children attending Assiut University Children Hospital

Introduction Goiter accompanies almost all thyroid diseases in children. It may be of congenital or acquired causes. Neck ultrasound (US) combined with color Doppler US on thyroid vasculature is useful in adjunct to clinical assessment and assessment of thyroid function in the diagnosis of goiter and its cause. In this study, we aimed to assess the causes of goiter in children attending Assiut University Children Hospital. Patients and methods This cross-sectional observational study included 28 patients with goiter. Each child was subjected to full clinical history and systemic examination and thyroid gland examination. The following investigations were done: neck US, thyroid-stimulating hormone and free T4, and thyroid autoantibodies in the indicated cases. Results Goiter in children is more prevalent in females by about three-fold than males. Acquired goiter is more prevalent than congenital goiter, constituting 82% of the studied cases of goiter. Family history of thyroid disorders was positive in all patients with congenital goiter and in six out of 23 patients with acquired goiter. Goiter with hyperthyroidism (mostly Grave's disease) is the most common cause of acquired goiter in children, followed by goiter with hypothyroidism (mostly Hashimoto's disease), then goiter with euthyroidism (mostly simple goiter). Neck US on thyroid gland with color Doppler US on thyroid vasculature is useful in cases with goiter for the diagnosis of goiter and its cause. Conclusion Acquired goiter is more prevalent than congenital goiter. Goiter with hyperthyroidism is the most common cause of acquired goiter in children. Neck US on thyroid gland with color Doppler US on thyroid vasculature is useful for the diagnosis of goiter and its cause.