Diagnostic workup of the short child.

Documents detailing the diagnostic approach to identification of short stature in children have been generated following several consensus meetings. Besides assessment of medical history and a physical examination, specific tests are proposed based on clinical suspicion. In the absence of abnormal findings, patients are typically screened using laboratory tests and radiographs of the hand. However, there is limited evidence as to the choice of screening components; these decisions are based on clinical experience. To improve the diagnostic approach in children with short stature, diagnostic tools should be improved to allow better characterization of patient subpopulations and better measures of certain parameters.