Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and prognosis of fetal goiter: analysis of five cases / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the prenatal ultrasound features and prognosis of fetal goiter.Methods:The prenatal ultrasound findings and clinical data of five cases of fetal goiter in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed regarding the sonographic features, concomitant signs, and prognosis using descriptive statistical method.Results:The five cases were first diagnosed as fetal goiter at 25-35 weeks of gestation, with all of them showing hypoechoic or medium echoic masses in the fetal anterior neck area. One case exhibited a central blood flow signal, early appearance of the distal femoral ossification center, tachycardia, increased cardiothoracic ratio during pregnancy, and developed postnatal hyperthyroidism. Three cases showed peripheral blood flow signals and had postnatal hypothyroidism, one of which had delayed appearance of distal femoral ossification center and increased cardiothoracic ratio. One case showed a peripheral blood flow signal with normal thyroid function after birth. Among the five cases, tracheal compression and polyhydramnios were found in one case; neck hyperextension was found in three cases. After treatment, the size of goiters did not change or shrunk in three cases and increased with the gestations in one case. One case did not receive any prenatal treatment and was born through cesarean section due to late detection and increased cardiothoracic ratio. Two cases underwent cesarean section at 35 gestational weeks, one had full-term cesarean section, and two delivered vaginally at term. Hyperthyroidism in one neonate was caused by excessively elevated maternal thyrotropin receptor antibody. Three cases of hypothyroidism occurred due to maternal antithyroid medication whose thyroid function recovered after supplementation of thyroxine. The thyroid function was normal in the rest of the baby. During the follow-up from 9 months to 4 years and 11 months old, no abnormalities in the intellectual and motor development of the five children were found.Conclusions:Fetal goiter often exhibits hypochoic or medium echoic mass in the anterior neck during prenatal ultrasonography. The fetal thyroid function could be evaluated according to different blood flow patterns and the presence of the ossification center. The prognosis of fetal goiter is good after active prenatal treatment.