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. 2025 Aug 22;17(3):256-262.
doi: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2024.2024-7-20. Epub 2024 Nov 13.

Normative Values for Thyroid Volume and Tracheal Index in Healthy Turkish Newborns in an Iodine Sufficient Region

Göksel Tuzcu  1 , Reyhan Deveci Sevim  2 , Mustafa Gök  1   3 , Ayşe Anık  4 , Ahmet Anık  2
Affiliations

Normative Values for Thyroid Volume and Tracheal Index in Healthy Turkish Newborns in an Iodine Sufficient Region

Göksel Tuzcu et al. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the normal values of thyroid volume and tracheal index in healthy, term newborns born in an iodine-sufficient population. Moreover, the usability of a handheld device for assessing tracheal index was assessed.

Methods: Thyroid imaging was performed at 0-2 days and 15-30 days using handheld and portable ultrasound (US) devices. Thyroid volume and tracheal index were calculated using standard formulae.

Results: A total of 144 healthy, term newborns with a mean birth weight 3230 g were enrolled. The normal thyroid volume for the entire population was 0.66±0.25 mL at 0-2 days, which significantly increased to 1.12±0.33 mL at 15-30 days (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in thyroid volume between genders in either age group (p=0.246 and p=0.879). Thyroid volume correlated with birth weight, length, and head circumference, with the strongest correlation being with birth weight (r=0.404, p<0.001; r=0.252, p=0.002; r=0.223, p=0.007, respectively). The tracheal index at 0-2 days was 1.84±0.30 in girls, 1.82±0.27 in boys, and 1.83±0.29 overall. At 15-30 days, it was 1.99±0.23 in girls, 2.00±0.28 in boys, and 1.99±0.25 overall. Similar to thyroid volume, the tracheal index increased significantly with age (p<0.01), with no significant gender differences in either age group (p=0.593 and p=0.886). Thyroid volume and tracheal index were moderately correlated in both measurements (rho=0.538, p<0.01). Measurements of the trachea, and thyroid lobe widths using portable and handheld US devices were positively correlated (r=0.449, p<0.01; r=0.638, p<0.01; r=0.497, p<0.01). There was also a correlation between tracheal index measurements using both devices at both the first and second measurements.

Conclusion: This study provides normative data for thyroid volumes and tracheal index in newborns from an iodine-sufficient population. The tracheal index may be used to estimate thyroid size when volume calculation is not feasible. Handheld US devices are effective for this assessment.

Keywords: Newborn thyroid volume; handheld ultrasonography; tracheal index.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Calculation of the tracheal index on a transverse sonogram of the thyroid [the sum of the maximum width of each thyroid lobe (a+b) divided by the width of the trachea at the level of the thyroid (c) gives the transverse sonogram tracheal index]
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation of thyroid volume with birth weight SD: standard deviation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation of tracheal index and thyroid volume
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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