THE DIAGNOSTIC USEFULNESS OF SKELETAL MATURATION IN AN ENDOCRINE CLINIC

[摘要] Correlation of bone age and clinical status of 146 children referred to an endocrine clinic has been presented. Ninety-five subjects were retarded with respect to height, bone age, or both. In only 30% of this group was a true endocrinologic disorder present, and the majority were attributable to hypothyroidism. Retarda-of skeletal maturation alone, however, is not indicative of thyroid disease. The majority of the group with retardation had a "constitutional" disorder.Fifty-one children exhibited acceleration of the bone age, stature, or both. In 20 it could be attributed to constitutional precocity. Such advancement, of a moderate degree, was associated with simple exogenous obesity. The most extreme alterations were seen in conjunction with adrenal hyperplasia or adenoma.The importance of employing several centers for the estimation of bone age has been stressed, and the significant diversity which may occur between the hand and wrist and other regions, has been detailed in several instances. A summary of concepts relating the endocrine system to maturation, in terms of the clinical data described herein, has been presented.

[学科分类] 儿科学