The authors examined 258 neonates during the first week after delivery, focused on ultrasonographic asses- sment of the volume of the thyroid gland. Moreover in 75 neonates and their mothers also iodiuria was assessed and in 44 mothers iodine excretion in milk. The mean volume of the thyroid gland in neonates was 0.60 ± 0.2 ml. Infants born in term had larger thyroid glands than premature infants (0.62 ± 0.2 ml, 0.45 ± 0.1 ml, P < 0.1). The authors did not find a correlation between the volume of the thyroid gland and body weight. The median of iodiuria in neonates was 6.5 mg/dl and in mothers 6.1 mg/dl. Between the iodiuria of the mothers and that of their children a correlation was found (r = 0.372, P < 0.01). The median of iodine excreted in milk was 5.5 mg/dl. Adequate iodine intake by the mother during pregnancy can influence also the size of the thyroid gland of her neonate. The assessed values of thyroid volumes are adequate, however, larger volumes such as 1 ml were recorded more frequently in children of multiparae (11/16). Therefore it would be useful to consider whether even in areas with an adequate iodine intake the iodine intake of multiparae should not be increased.

        Key words: thyroid volume, neonates, iodiuria, iodine content of milk