Thyroid Enlargement from Newborn to Adolescent

A thyroid enlargement , i.e., a goiter , may be due to many causes both congenital and acquired and could be detected at any age during childhood and adolescence. Goiters can be diffuse or nodular and associated with normal or altered thyroid function. The thyroid enlargement may be caused by increased TSH secretion acting as growth factor, by TSH receptor stimulating antibodies or by a TSH-independent process, such as infl ammation or neoplastic or infi ltrative disease. The relative frequency of the various forms varies according to the age