From the Research
The normal size range of the thyroid gland in adults is typically considered to be up to 18 ml for women and 25 ml for men, as indicated by the most recent study 1. When evaluating thyroid size, it's essential to consider various factors such as age, sex, iodine intake, and geographic location, as these can influence thyroid volume.
- In children, the thyroid gland is proportionally smaller and grows gradually with age until reaching adult size during puberty.
- The use of ultrasound provides more accurate measurements of thyroid size compared to physical examination through palpation.
- An enlarged thyroid (goiter) may indicate various thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, or nodular disease. Key points to consider when assessing thyroid size include:
- The upper limit for thyroid volume in adults, as mentioned earlier, is 18 ml for women and 25 ml for men 1.
- Thyroid size can vary significantly among individuals, and reference values should be used as a guide rather than a strict standard.
- Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) is a crucial diagnostic tool for evaluating thyroid nodules with suspicious clinical findings or ultrasound features suggestive of malignancy 2.