Determination of thyroid volume in infants with suspected congenital hypothyroidism-the limitations of both subjective and objective evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two methods of assessing gland size on thyroid ultrasound in newborn infants with suspected congenital hypothyroidism (CH). METHODS: Images from infants with eutopic glands referred between 2007 and 2013 were evaluated blind by two sets of observers. Subjective gland size was categorised as small, borderline-small, normal, borderline-large and large. Objective gland volume, calculated as the sum of each lobe using the prolate ellipsoid formula (length x width x depth x π/6), was put into corresponding categories: <0.8, 0.81-1.0, 1.1- <2.2, 2.2-2.4 and >2.4 ml, derived from normative Scottish data. RESULTS: Of 36 infants, permanent CH was present in 17, transient CH in 17, status uncertain in 2. Mean (SD) intraobserver error for thyroid volume measurement was 0.11 (0.23) ml [8.3%]. Subjective assessment by two observers was discordant in only four (10.8%) infants. However, subjective vs objective evaluation was discordant in 14 (39%). Eight (three permanent, five transient CH) had large glands subjectively but normal glands objectively; and six (four transient CH) had normal glands subjectively but small glands objectively. The former infants all showed a single flattened curve to the anterior thyroid margin, giving an impression of bulkiness. Gland shape was normal in the latter infants. CONCLUSION: Neither subjective nor objective evaluation predicts permanent vs transient CH. Altered gland shape may confound both methods, and undermine use of the conventional formula for measuring lobe volume. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Until more refined methods are available for assessing thyroid size, both subjective and objective evaluation are recommended in CH.

Zeroing in on red blood cell unit expiry.

BACKGROUND: Expiry of red blood cell (RBC) units is a significant contributor to wastage of precious voluntary donations. Effective strategies aimed at optimal resource utilization are required to minimize wastage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the strategic measures implemented to reduce expiry of RBC units in an Australian tertiary regional hospital. The measures, which included inventory rearrangement, effective stock rotation, and the number of emergency courier services required during a 24-month period, were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no wastage of RBC units due to expiry over the 12 months after policy changes. Before these changes, approximately half of RBC wastage (261/511) was due to expiry. The total number of transfusions remained constant in this period and there was no increase in the use of emergency couriers. Policy changes implemented were decreasing the RBC inventory level by one-third and effective stock rotation and using a computerized system to link the transfusion services across the area. Effective stock rotation resulted in a reduction in older blood (>28 days) received in the main laboratory rotated from peripheral hospitals, down from 6%-41% to 0%-2.5%. CONCLUSION: Age-related expiry of blood products is preventable and can be significantly reduced by improving practices in the pathology service. This study provides proof of principle for "zero tolerance for RBC unit expiry" across a large networked blood banking service.

Growth arrest lines and intra-epiphyseal silhouettes: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Growth arrest lines can develop within the skeleton after physiological stress or trauma. They are usually evident on radiographs as transverse lines in the metaphyses and have been used in fields from palaeontology to orthopaedics. This report consists of three cases, two of which describe growth arrest lines in an intra-epiphyseal site hitherto rarely documented, and a third demonstrating their clinical application. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1 describes a 9-year-old who suffered a knee hyperflexion injury requiring anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament reattachments. She subsequently developed a marked distal femoral intra-epiphyseal arrest silhouette, as well as metaphyseal arrest lines in the femur, tibia and fibula. Case 2 describes an 8-year-old who sustained a tibial spine fracture and underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Subsequent imaging shows a further example of femoral intra-epiphyseal arrest silhouette as well as tibia and fibula metaphyseal arrest lines. Case 3 describes a 10-year-old who sustained a distal tibia fracture which was managed with open reduction and internal fixation. Subsequently the metaphyseal growth arrest line was parallel to the physis, suggesting no growth arrest (a danger with such a fracture). CONCLUSION: This case series describes two examples of rarely described intra-epiphyseal growth arrest silhouettes and demonstrates the usefulness of arrest lines when assessing for growth plate damage.

Standardising reporting of cervical lymphadenopathy in paediatric neck ultrasound: a pilot study using an evidence-based reporting protocol.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in children and can arise from a wide range of aetiologies. Ultrasound can be a useful imaging tool for initial investigation but is known to be operator dependent. We aimed to compare the content of ultrasound reporting in this clinical scenario before and after the introduction of an evidence-based reporting protocol. METHODS: We performed a prospective 8-month pilot study assessing the content of ultrasound reports generated from scans to investigate suspected cervical lymphadenopathy in children referred to our tertiary referral otolaryngology service. We found wide variation in report content and inconsistent reporting of certain radiological features. In response to this we performed a literature search to identify key, clinically relevant ultrasonographic features for cervical lymphadenopathy and then in consultation with our radiology colleagues, devised a protocol to facilitate the reporting of these key features. Content of reports was then prospectively re-audited over a further 8-month period. RESULTS: 23 reports were assessed before and 26 after introduction of the reporting protocol. Fisher's exact test was used to analyse the data. We found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the frequency of reporting of various key features such as nodal distribution, shape, echogenicity, calcification, necrosis and vascular pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a standardised protocol has helped to streamline the reporting of ultrasounds to investigate cervical lymphadenopathy within our department. In the absence of any national guidelines on the reporting of paediatric neck ultrasound in this scenario, we propose that our protocol could be used by other departments to improve standardisation and as a teaching aid.

Foot anomalies and proximal symphalangism.

We report the case of a 2-week-old girl born at term (by vaginal delivery and without antenatal or perinatal events) who was referred as having "bilateral talipes and bilateral proximal symphalangism of little and ring fingers." The "talipes" was atypical with marked equinus and varus, but no cavus or adductus of the midfoot. Her mother had both symphalangism (absence of proximal interphalangeal joints) of middle, ring, and little fingers bilaterally and fixed pes planus with a rigid fixed hindfoot-and these deformities had also been present from birth. The maternal grandmother was similarly affected. However, the neonatal subject has an unaffected older sibling; maternal siblings are also unaffected. The three affected people did not have other obvious musculoskeletal abnormalities. Because of the coalitions, the child's atypical talipes was managed by a modified Kite's procedure. Symphalangism-coalition syndromes may be associated with conductive deafness because of fusion of the auditory ossicles.

Swelling around a child's knee.

Swellings around the paediatric knee have a large differential diagnosis, although the majority can be diagnosed clinically. Some swellings merit further investigation by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Bilateral ureteric obstruction secondary to renal papillary necrosis.

A 2-year-old male presented to hospital with a 5-day history of vomiting and pyrexia. He was initially treated with non-steroidal medication as an anti-pyretic. Initial investigations demonstrated a raised urea and creatinine and he was treated with intravenous fluids. Within 24 h he became anuric with progressive renal insufficiency. Ultrasound scan demonstrated minimal bilateral hydronephrosis with debris in the lower pole calyces. The bladder was empty. Cystoscopy and retrograde contrast imaging revealed bilateral ureteric obstruction. Double J stents were inserted and his renal function returned to normal within 4 days. We believe the aetiology to be renal papillary necrosis and bilateral ureteric obstruction secondary to the administration of ibuprofen in association with dehydration.

MRI in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyositis.

The use of MRI in the assessment of the musculoskeletal system in children has important differences from its use in adults. Growth in children has significant impact on the epiphysis and growth plate, which are important structures in the growing child, and there are radiological features that differ from those in adults: disease may alter structures during a period of growth; the pathologies themselves are a distinct group of diseases at variance with adult arthritis and myositis, with a different spectrum of differential diagnoses; and many technical issues are different when imaging a child. These are important considerations in choosing the appropriate imaging. MRI is a powerful and valuable imaging technique in pediatric musculoskeletal pathologies, with considerable potential for future developments to enhance its role in diagnosis, management, and therapeutic intervention for these children.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in primary liver rhabdomyosarcoma.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a well-documented paraneoplastic phenomenon in adults. It is a rare, but important finding in children with malignant disease as it can indicate prognosis. We present a case of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy associated with primary liver rhabdomyosarcoma in a 14-year-old boy.