Skip to content

Conservatively managed fetal goiter: an alternative to in utero therapy.

CPQCC Publication
TitleConservatively managed fetal goiter: an alternative to in utero therapy.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsBlumenfeld YJ, Davis A, Milan K, Chueh J, Hudgins L, Barth RA, Hintz SR
JournalFetal Diagn Ther
Volume34
Issue3
Pagination184-7
Date Published2013
ISSN1421-9964
KeywordsAdult, Female, Fetal Diseases, Goiter, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Pregnancy, Thyroid Gland, Ultrasonography
Abstract

Fetal goiter may arise from a variety of etiologies including iodine deficiency, overtreatment of maternal Graves' disease, inappropriate maternal thyroid replacement and, rarely, congenital hypothyroidism. Fetal goiter is often associated with a retroflexed neck and polyhydramnios, raising concerns regarding airway obstruction in such cases. Prior reports have advocated for cordocentesis and intra-amniotic thyroid hormone therapy in order to confirm the diagnosis of fetal thyroid dysfunction, reduce the size of the fetal goiter, reduce polyhydramnios, aid with the assistance of maternal thyroid hormone therapy and reduce fetal malpresentation. We report two cases of conservatively managed fetal goiter, one resulting in a vaginal delivery, and no evidence of postnatal respiratory distress despite the presence of polyhydramnios and a retroflexed neck on prenatal ultrasound.

DOI10.1159/000353387
Alternate JournalFetal Diagn Ther
PubMed ID23920148