Histologic thyroid gland findings in the newborn infant and infant, with special reference to sudden infant death

The morphological picture of the thyroid gland, the only endocrine organ with a follicle structure, allows a limited conclusion to be drawn with respect to the functional state in spite of any physiological variability. The thyroid of the newborn shows total colloid release and collapse of the follicles. The regular structure of the thyroid will be rebuilt within several weeks after birth. Total colloid absorption can be found in cases of stress-activated thyroids as well as in cases of death due to freezing. A histological examination was done on 88 thyroids of fetuses, newborns and infants. About 70% of the results on 27 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may be interpreted as a morphological correlate of a premortal chronic or recurrent stress reaction. The value of these results is discussed.