Die Struma juvenilis

Abstract

Clinical, cytological, serological and endocrinological examinations were performed on 50 previously untreated children and adolescent with goitre. Three girls were found to have the cytological picture of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in one instance associated with Turner's syndrome and hyperthyroidism. Two other girls presented with hyperthyroidism. In the remaining 45 patients thyroid aspirates and thyroid hormone levels were normal. The girl with Turner's syndrome, hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis had thyroglobulin antibodies. It is the authors' experience that the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be made only by needle biopsy of the thyroid. If iodination of cooking and table salt were to become widespread in the Federal Republic of Germany, and increased incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is to be expected amount children with goitre.