Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography of cortical and cingulum maturity patterns, were studied in newborns and infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH).

Method: Transversal study of 29 newborns and infants with CH, detected by neonatal screening and confirmed with thyroid function test, thyroid ultrasonography, and thyroid scintigraphy. During the first 2 months of life, transfontanelar brain ultrasonography was performed. Brain cortex maturity was assessed by normality referents provided by Slagle and Timor methods.

Results: Cortical immaturity signs were observed in 69% of infants (20 patients with Slage’s method brain cortex development delay (Pearson’s p=0.05). Logistic nominal analysis for normality prediction demonstrated a correlation between brain cortex development and age, bone age, treatment duration, and type of CH. The most sensitive detecting technique was sagittal sight by Slagle’s method.

Conclusions: Brain cortex delayed development is frequent in children with CH. Bone age, postnatal age at treatment start, and time since treatment start, correlates with neurological development, but not athyreosis or sublingual nodule.