The evaluation of short stature requires expertise to carefully determine the child’s genetic potential, their current growth rate and evaluate for all potential causes of poor/slow growth. A critical component of the evaluation is the bone age x-ray which I prefer to review myself as I have found that in approximately 1/3 of the cases, I disagree with the original radiology report.
If as a parent you are concerned about your child’s height, an endocrine evaluation will be able to answer your questions and give you a prognosis of what the anticipated adult height will be so you can make an informed decision about potential treatments.
Puberty is a crucial determinant of adult height. Those who enter and complete puberty early will stop growing earlier. Therefore decisions regarding the need for a complete evaluation and potential treatment options should be made ideally before but definitely no later than the beginning of puberty to ensure the best outcomes.
Tags: height, milagros huerta, pediatric endocrinology, stature