早期治療を逸した成人クレチン症の骨変化 ２症例の検討

Abstract

It is generally known that untreated congenital thyroid deficiency is characterized by lack of statural growth and by mental retardation with sluggishness and absence of emotional response. Two cases of adult cretins untreated for many years since their birth were recently encountered. The purpose of this report is to discuss the roentgenologic features of untreated adult cretins with the review of some literatures.The cases were the 53 years old female and the 33 years old male. The ages of the begining of thyroid therapy were 53 years old and 17 years old respectively. The former showed more characteristic bone changes than the latter. Particulaly, osteoarthropatic changes were observed in her elbows, knees, and hip joints. Thyroid deficiency induces the disturbance of enchondral ossification in epiphysis, therefore, bone changes in adult cretins show residual growth plate, epiphyseal dysgenesis, cortical thickness, etc. in whole bones.The early and continuous treatment from infancy is sure to be most important so as to protect and improve bone changes and mental retardation.