ROLE OF TRANSABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF ADRENAL GLAND SIZE IN NEONATES- A ONE YEAR HOSPITAL BASED COMPARATIVE STUDY’

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adrenal glands are small paired structures situated superior to the kidneys on both sides, hence are also termed as suprarenal glands. They are responsible for the production and synthesis of various important hormones like cortisol, mineralocorticoids and sex steroids. These hormones have a very important role to play for the proper functioning of the adult human body. In fetal life and in neonates, these hormones are responsible for the proper and adequate growth and development of the neonates. Limited number of studies are available which establish a normal size range of the adrenal glands in neonates and how various comorbidities affect the size of the adrenal gland. Adrenal gland size can be used as a predictor in fetal and neonatal life to predict various complications that a baby might face later in life. The study was conducted with the objective of studying the size of adrenal glands using transabdominal sonography in various stressed and non-stressed neonates and establish normal range of adrenal gland sizes in both groups and also to establish a relationship between various stressors that the neonate might have during fetal life with its effect on adrenal gland size.