Numerous works on thyroid fundtion state in adult age, using I131 have been carried out. However, relatively few reports on children have been available due primarily to a possible deleterious radiation effects in the pediatric age grouts. Since Van Middles Worth and Martmers´ study that no appreciable dise effects were encountered after the administration of I 131 in newborn and immature infants, several reports on the thyroid function test using I 131 in children appeared in the literature, there however remained some controversy in ragard to the data in children.
A study on the thyroid uptake values in 173 male and 144 frmale Korean children with the ages ranging from newborn to 18, was carried out. The doses given orally were 3-50c., and the 2-,6-,24-, and 48hr. thyroid uptake as well as the PBI131 conversion ratio were determined. The data were further compared with normal persons and patients with various thyroid diseases.
Following were the results
1. The 24hr. uptake values were: 66.4% in newborn, 32.2% in 1 month ~4yerar, 25.3% in 5~7, 25.8% in 8~11, 25.0% in 12~14 and 23.9% in 15~18 years of age. A marked drop of the values was noted in 1 month ~4years age gorup.
2. There observed neither a difference on the basis of sex nor a specific correlation with the body weight.
3. PBI131 conversion ratios studied in 130 children were: 37.8% in 2~4, 38.2% in 5~7 years of age. A peak was observed in 4~5 years of age and the values decreased as low as to 29.6% at 10 years of age, and then approached to the normal adult values.
4. Incidence of the abnormalthyroid function state in children turned out to be 9% of all cases studied, which was far less than in adults of the same number.
5. The iodine contents of the ordinary food in this country appeared to be suffice to maintain the normal thyroid function in children
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