[Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in a suburban hospital: assessment of eleven years' experience].

Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the commonest endocrine diseases in infancy; the diagnosis is delayed it can lead to mental impairment. Since a precocious diagnosis, based on clinical symptoms and signs, is often difficult, screening at birth is very useful. Substitute L-T4 therapy presents some problems as it is impossible to assess the right dose before. The results of an eleven years long screening in a peripheral hospital are reported: 6408 babies were examined and congenital hypothyroidism was present in three cases, depending respectively on agenesia, ectopia and hypoplasia of the thyroid gland.