Pediatric Testing 3rd year 2nd semester

Question 1

What is the first step in evaluating infantile growth hormone deficiency?

A) MRI of the brain
B) Random serum GH level
C) Serum IGF-1 level
D) Growth hormone stimulation test

Answer 1

✅ C) IGF-1 is a more stable marker of GH secretion and is the first step in screening.
❌ A) MRI is used later if GHD is confirmed, to check for pituitary abnormalities.
❌ B) Random GH levels are not useful due to pulsatile secretion.
❌ D) Stimulation tests are done if IGF-1 is low but not as a first step.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is true?

A) All SGA infants have IUGR
B) Preterm SGA infants always exhibit catch-up growth
C) Some SGA children remain short throughout life
D) Skeletal maturation is always delayed in SGA infants

Answer 2

Correct Answer: C) Some SGA children remain short throughout life
✅ C) While many SGA infants exhibit catch-up growth, about 15-20% remain permanently short.

❌ A) Not all SGA infants have IUGR—some are constitutionally small without an abnormal restriction of growth.
❌ B) Preterm infants often have inadequate catch-up growth due to poor postnatal nutrition.
❌ D) Skeletal maturation is usually normal and corresponds to chronological age in SGA children.