The article discusses the best clinical practices for evaluation of patients with goiter, which is intended to GPs for children by your doctor. Initially it is necessary to distinguish between the real thyroid enlargement, goiter, and the status where the thyroid gland has the normal size, but the neck skin mimicking its magnification (pseudo-goiter).
For accurate determination of the size of the thyroid glad ultrasound is used. The assessing of the thyroid function is by determining plasma levels of TSH and free thyroxine.
Examination can be supplemented by determining the levels of autoantibodies. Patients with asymmetric enlargement of the thyroid gland, changes in the ultrasound picture and changes in hormone levels should be examined by an pediatric endocrinologist