Association of severe respiratory distress syndrome and thyroid agenesis in a term neonate

Case report: A neonate was born by vaginal route at the gestational age of 38 weeks after a normal pregnancy. At birth the baby unexpectedly showed no signs of spontaneous breathing and was immediately intubated. Respiratory support was continued but with gradual evolution towards respiratory insufficiency (oxygenation index of 25–35) with subsequent referral to our unit for ECMO treatment on day 3. On admission, clinical examination of the neonate showed a large fontanel with large protruding tongue and icterus. On neurological examination, there was a striking hypotonia ('frog'like position). X-ray was consist…