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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old
' z! B" ~: Z5 r* a6 S2 q t, @; tBoy Induced by Indirect Topical) u. w& y2 s& d) h
Exposure to Testosterone; i- q: ~* C. S# _' b9 S; Y
Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2% Z, G- m; X p5 k3 o: ~+ R
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1+ R7 h3 x& g4 U9 S; E% N; o
Clinical Pediatrics3 n B# t' q/ r8 O D2 f" I
Volume 46 Number 6
+ U5 j2 y2 K1 x5 e( BJuly 2007 540-543
2 m+ Z! ]7 P7 m; W5 _2 p) V1 H© 2007 Sage Publications
" Y- N& _3 L+ h4 C/ j5 n: n10.1177/0009922806296651
6 _( U2 `( j% }* b+ w: khttp://clp.sagepub.com
. r+ y w ~+ Z, T/ g& B5 `hosted at
0 d4 q& m% x6 F0 R, A& H# M6 bhttp://online.sagepub.com0 X4 J/ p( z1 j0 O s: \
Precocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,0 a4 o" K$ I4 a
is a significant concern for physicians. Central
' [ G+ d8 f/ B0 a' r, F/ x. f% jprecocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
/ n' _; C# K0 Z0 Q6 T) Dthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has$ y5 B0 k' z- j6 U' Q
a higher incidence of organic central nervous system$ f$ G1 R4 M+ v" E5 i8 `9 F. d/ z
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
* w- R" O; J" u: m1 `6 o" q5 r7 _8 Eby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic0 \+ `# c/ N3 t: C. }" z$ E( m- K0 v3 r
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-
5 _& m0 r5 I6 b, k Scles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We
/ O" c1 Z7 U4 s0 V8 Hreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the
b2 W N6 R$ k8 R3 H4 d/ Z C0 Cenlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-1 m+ g! e$ f0 r- X+ Q& r
ment without testicular enlargement, which was due1 m7 H, o- J3 n L( Y* [0 \2 @
to the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
6 P$ a. O. z% c/ z7 ^the father. The family initially concealed this infor-
5 O8 G# m, c1 [* _7 ?+ C6 w! Emation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this
# l1 ^0 M* ]' Y9 k4 a: p& ~child. Given the widespread and easy availability of
! Y/ T7 |2 R: l l: J1 N" |: Rtestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
6 e9 J U& l, ^+ t; E* qbly more common than the rare case report in the
' z. P& r4 |" N: ~+ {literature.4* f- I; }) s: F6 i
Patient Report
1 l$ c8 F" U7 S1 f8 m# H* g. bA 16-month-old white child was referred to the/ _2 i( d5 x* \" @, [
endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern( ]& ?- h; H f
of early sexual development. His mother noticed9 W/ |" Q1 _0 u/ p! ]& c
light colored pubic hair development when he was
[/ w9 w. X C- zFrom the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
7 O6 k( L. e3 n" C5 ISouth Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.
" Y1 f& ^, m( X' U' i+ Z9 q- S. O3 uAddress correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
( Y, E: Z( i( h6 V# HProfessor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
; A/ I4 U& `0 Y1 w; u2 E( xMedicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;6 h. Q* [) {* s* F; v
e-mail: [email protected].2 C. M7 A3 d9 L# u+ @1 d1 I. u
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
) T2 @% T: o! y. z" Zdarker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
8 u" A5 R+ A- @9 ?% }3 a! H0 bment of his penis and frequent erections. The child
! ^$ [# T3 k3 o. a$ Nwas the product of a full-term normal delivery, with1 }( d2 d" p" J; v9 q2 }9 t+ l3 o$ B
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of- o. H' I R5 l/ _2 Z1 i
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year1 P" z+ S' R) G0 ?; H5 {
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with4 t3 q9 u3 g5 D. J
solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,
e( Y( S8 y- N, R- Y( P* Qand his psychosocial and psychomotor development# k4 [! G& w+ a4 A2 \$ ~ x
was age appropriate.4 {2 U) K# O# x x4 Q
The family history was remarkable for the father,
6 s5 o1 j; ~; c/ }% B5 d# twho was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,8 h+ _0 b; a6 d* w
which was treated with thyroxine. The father’s
' T# U! N) K; b% I& u# [% m: vheight was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat
( s$ r1 i2 B9 M# Q" @9 d searly puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.
8 z/ y% d1 `5 H+ Y6 x. bThe father denied taking any other medication. The
# N1 M- M' I3 R, ], ]child’s mother was in good health. Her menarche% D) P* g; F2 C) t. s
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet
& L9 I" [# D+ ?# L$ u; o# |1 t6 z5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-9 U. [' ~( {$ Y/ |, F& o- j
cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
+ v; G& z- u& {% d& ?/ R& q2 K+ S+ ytives. There were no siblings.
7 ^$ f k( w, y6 s% |2 nPhysical Examination
* C$ b5 c2 j- |8 mThe physical examination revealed a very active,
& D/ K1 D* V( C4 r+ C8 g- mplayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
9 t# q8 n; a. qa blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was
+ d. k' ], ~! e0 t, D. A; v. I: G6 a90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg
9 b+ H/ U1 D8 y- F(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth& C; z, \6 o# X+ V
velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of
% c0 d2 U+ K- V; N& m: y- sthe neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.1 a @( j# P8 B# X, V% b
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for
: t' E2 m4 k4 [2 q9 G. e ~# Xenlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of
' q3 T5 e* O, N2 y4 ^5 u8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
& M! H j0 i h7 b7 ]4 R2 y. ddeveloped. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around: f+ F0 |- c0 f+ N0 n9 t
540
8 g% Y) _. q; @3 y1 \# |at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
# v' P) \3 w, t9 j- O$ O. a( Zthe base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The. g( I8 j# \+ U3 S) \5 S
testicular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.5 e1 t- J7 C" ~/ p9 ?
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat/ a7 ?" e: m6 M, h
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
5 ~4 @' F6 p+ y) p3 Nabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.& X! i6 y7 }+ t6 _2 Q
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
; x3 I( Y; \7 D; b* G/ Gbilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion8 G7 X2 p; A3 \
of papilledema.
) [- U0 D- e0 A7 DLaboratory Evaluation
9 Y1 D: v! ^0 K4 K# i$ }5 f/ m! v9 \The bone age was consistent with 28 months by
# Z2 u* c; T5 ~' g, @7 Gusing the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-: g8 f ~! C) E- e
logic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal& S( _/ Y* d. a0 `5 \
karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test; ?* t6 i! X, L k
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-
9 |/ t( x, ]( l0 O; _0 blating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).0 E: q, }$ q$ e2 i2 V& Y
The concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood5 }* ]7 `8 T8 T C; h& W5 q3 }
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
U/ u& k3 k o& C1 T1 dwithin normal range for his age. The concentration/ y- A/ A+ R1 X1 i8 p$ ]. s
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
9 x; L' s9 v3 I" h* `' p(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20
# j, T; i4 c7 Sng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
+ G6 W9 t0 W( E0 w+ ^1 U: |2 ?1 ]( uterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
% I; K- L+ o! ?desoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to0 v5 Z% ~4 B( Y' d9 i& ~
49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)4 x9 c' m( O0 U. k
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
1 H* w5 `( z4 I6 m0 I- Ztisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total( z; E& g. Q' N+ `6 j h9 y, U7 J
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),* W( f# T, [* Z0 j. X- |# ~
and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than- O8 ]- \ g9 D2 z
5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
/ }" K$ m4 e. G% C+ r) y1 y) T. b ystimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone
1 t7 ^) d0 _- p( k1 o8 [, Uconcentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
* G' I$ @9 k5 A8 e. R$ v(prepubertal).* H6 J, W( [. N5 r _
The parents were notified about the laboratory
( i S7 C( ~) d4 o+ X! b8 I; @ Kresults and were informed that all of the tests were
& k; ?: q6 e: m& x& H% Y3 znormal except the testosterone level was high. The5 c' J1 H, N& ^
follow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to! V& n/ F& d/ @) Q+ i4 f0 D
obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-8 x6 q( L- U1 u s- n7 V7 y( c2 V
ever, the family did not return for 4 months.
4 _4 i& c& ^' N7 \Physical examination at this time revealed that the
1 P, A' g# H( z) F& }child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
6 _/ k8 h3 i. \( J8 @% m8 n1 v3 f- \0 E2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
1 S3 R$ Z) W. H8 H5 U) T% Punchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-
: @* z% ?) t( o: f" T \- b& {pletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at/ Q/ K: ?% W0 M n2 k0 H& S
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
: i; g4 ~! s+ T1 ~, F( J, ImL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.8 D& U5 q* ^ @! D0 P% k) n
The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-4 o5 P! u l) `) O+ z
ing frequent erections.7 x$ U6 ^# n! y7 P3 Q/ N3 F4 F& T U2 @
Both parents were again questioned about use of
0 |3 ^! N0 h; \: Z8 ]any ointment/creams that they may have applied to
5 ]1 u' h4 x1 M( R, r) \0 |$ M. `the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the
6 W' E+ o& {* [6 r) j6 C+ W [" P# sTopical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541
; Q* r1 T1 B" l9 \use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-
, x( H7 h% y- {# [4 g$ S+ p2 B$ wing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for
3 c3 f* ^2 M2 N: g5 {7 aa year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed9 z6 d2 o& r" s7 I0 E/ Q/ j8 q
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-& r+ j7 Y( h' s' a& V
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido
. u( O' k$ B0 C. T* |# F9 p1 xsecondary to depression.
9 t5 y$ j, p% GThe child slept in the same bed with parents.
& k5 R3 Z5 I4 uThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his
% O' V' G- `' C1 x) U6 c- I: cchest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-
9 |; S4 P- M) x# h6 Y: H- |" x9 Qnificant bare skin contact between baby and father.% B9 b9 q& i- ?* a8 X" q
The father also admitted that after the phone call,
" @8 P7 ?0 v$ `1 O8 H$ _when he learned the testosterone level in the baby
0 h2 o! e) D4 Xwas high, he then read the product information
4 ~4 ]& x% \6 U0 Bpacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
/ r% V7 t0 s: T; `' O4 i! q( sson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they% Q% G' w% B& w! e9 X4 S0 u
decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
* |% u$ ^; K' d2 j5 ]father was not hugging him with bare skin and had0 e4 b9 }: L4 Z! |
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone6 q! }0 x. n: U+ W$ f: o/ r; B
test was ordered, but the family did not go to the
m# c& S( q0 ?3 V8 p" d: ~laboratory to obtain the test.
5 }- E# X$ o& y; c o% tDiscussion7 @3 B2 j& i5 x; T5 ~( x9 f z+ B
Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary3 @- t* T" H/ s8 q
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4. \8 ?5 }! g+ V0 H0 E9 |; C; E
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
0 E$ T2 M" a3 @it is caused by the premature activation of hypo-
- Y) {# L- f: L6 T5 r- ?9 sthalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-
' `, }# y! n0 ?! s5 Rmon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP; r! C6 X9 e) F) U; h& P# a, p
may have a central nervous system lesion that is
. W- d- M9 o: D7 r- X$ I! t aresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal-# F: z2 J3 t- ^: i/ t1 D& O3 M& Z
amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-! {: S* C7 r4 @& ~) T) O/ b
sis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in
- z; l$ _( q/ U3 h& I G2 L tboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
6 A* A& v: V( o1 I# M+ Pization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
, i, _8 M; N4 Z; s) B* h8 q7 T# A" L6 nrical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
% L8 r/ R5 n/ D. X Z# [3 g% hgonadotropins.1,3
. y3 c5 `$ a" B/ g" J* N M" VGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-
) M0 V6 C' f- M, Y; t0 C' Ucious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate
7 r9 r) m% Y0 R8 p9 [6 Iandrogenic stimulation from either endogenous or
! Y0 z3 Q g3 M4 M0 Lexogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-
) O; `+ ~+ q" _) d! `ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing) V6 \: [+ M/ g
congenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
" O" t- S0 C) c- [! X9 n U. \2 ~" Ladrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
) {* y9 h! X. T, Opuberty in boys.3,43 R, G' a) x- N( r) }) ^# Y
The most common form of congenital adrenal
2 w" e2 J' Y+ Ohyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.: \' e, D4 {+ O- ?7 A7 u
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in) r/ `" L9 g0 D! K
excessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,0 L4 N2 B) g9 |+ u# M/ N
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
7 M5 X4 X/ v8 b' N3 `excess.1,3
4 N) W8 E( M# [2 ]at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
: o: w+ E1 ~9 N4 w, T7 ?0 t o& Y542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007
. y! P' }9 o7 u7 uA unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-
3 G9 @5 I6 @6 f8 X- Y/ w* G% [1 eindependent precocious puberty, which is also known
, N3 J9 F4 V5 a5 das testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a$ ]; b" u- S; J. Z- I
very young age. The physical findings in these boys/ S- Y2 n6 F$ p5 j; A. s
with this disorder are full pubertal development,
& w0 r1 ^! o) p) ?- E3 dincluding bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys
5 ^2 K& e8 h# {1 Wwith CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder
9 }: j+ L! k% d) n* ?2 P9 Kare suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
; c5 ~$ a h5 D) @2 z3 N3 npubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
0 d- v& E5 d P7 jreleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked
2 t6 v# m8 m o; Bautosomal dominant disorder that affects only" ^+ r' z- _5 q. b; E3 Z. ^; b# I
males; therefore, other male members of the family) k, ?0 }9 { I; J# i- |2 m. I
may have similar precocious puberty.3
$ r" W0 N( S7 V3 i6 tIn our patient, physical examination was incon-
( s" q) n5 Q9 Fsistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-
' j0 M4 r" X; f! z, g. t: ecles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
% c8 Y( h, O6 R$ K4 \( N9 t9 jwas in the differential diagnosis because his father+ O" z2 F4 i$ i7 M
started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
& j, y4 m4 j# t5 Stesticular enlargement is not that evident in the) r4 y5 A0 s6 Q: p Z
beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-% \( b0 Q. z$ D: O9 ?
ative initial history of androgen exposure, our
0 r) ~! b" \! V9 |& Lbiggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,5 e- h3 u: p G: F0 P, d" ~
either 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
5 y0 b H9 B2 \5 ~" Zdeficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
1 E, V, ]) f/ w, T C" b F( Fing the normal level of adrenal steroids.1 H& F3 b: M! i" H: _4 e
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
) A* B( F8 c. n/ msuspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
5 \1 O8 \, R+ e, Vthe physical examination revealed the complete disap-
( Z' m& c1 T9 x% vpearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and" [: H+ w/ ]1 }6 N4 w2 X, Q) ^
decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-" q$ e+ }: X, l" ^9 l: X9 y |# H
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
1 E5 }* f4 o. Fusing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’
2 e* {6 F; X- e. jDesk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or: O4 E% K! i4 P0 D4 t4 i) o+ _7 Y
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to
( ~* w4 e$ l. n& r+ s7 n# `$ `unprotected females through direct skin exposure.) z; v7 E& U0 d" h9 E& H" ?
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the
. F. d5 B; }9 E) J6 E+ Nbaseline value in those females who were exposed to% h; W0 ~. Y+ N5 v2 V9 H# j5 D
even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male! E ~* w! M$ x: |2 ~: K" ?
partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-
) I4 d, F F+ r' ^* k* x) d3 e" Rtion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
6 y0 n1 ?$ s3 p. ~; v. ~7 bOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,& `$ A+ N+ {* C8 S
which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
& S/ U c6 B' P5 n( Z3 A, Sdermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-* ^" G3 b* t& D5 b7 f7 F" i, y8 R7 v/ A
terone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more+ B9 }, B8 u8 j0 y
active in young children exposed to testosterone
+ ^! W) C8 T+ B& @exogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-& @& i) g7 W4 {5 ^& k9 e8 v
drotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
$ K$ e) W4 K* H& }virilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in& e% R; m" W! J& y
children results in an increase in growth velocity and- C2 z; c: x0 l" ?
advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.$ R1 J; n2 D" T3 P
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during! v* d3 t: O* E" w
early childhood on pubertal development and final
4 x. g N8 Y4 y& c" ?/ g! H9 I; n, M8 Hadult height are not fully known and always remain
/ K4 B! m' n, n" h9 ea concern. Children treated with short-term testos-
7 G% G0 C; [1 {3 [) Iterone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some
8 j. n& J* W5 M( x4 G& Facceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after
$ c7 u7 B5 [: A7 `$ N6 Pcessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation+ ^9 [( H( u; W1 Z! P
decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
5 p- X; j/ Y% {1 A1 ]There are conflicting reports and controversy
% i- v# f7 Y/ s/ X$ n6 lover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult4 S& r% {# Q( q: x6 S
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal
4 t' N% Y( i& jadult penile length, apparently because of downreg-
9 ?% m( l) `0 B9 g* Y+ Culation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,
$ x) q/ z# ~4 K0 A# |6 pSutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
4 T6 p6 e1 r' [" a7 k, ~1 [+ ^childhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult
/ N' P' C# b( ^) L% C5 v+ _: x" cpenile length in clinical studies.& l! V# j i" d& x5 P. u
Nonetheless, we do not believe our patient is! ~" r% ~% c7 I" D6 b
going to experience any of the untoward effects from3 l2 }/ t7 m. @( N! o
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because
$ x8 s! w2 W% _( E; K$ o6 H+ hthe exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.) K$ F$ R3 z D; ]" j6 j" z
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of- h, b! v$ J7 M) ]. Z+ a7 m
diagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at2 C. Q6 ?$ |, M0 m
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult
# N' _1 l( X5 M! aheight will not be affected.) {, F( j) a! x# b
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail-5 i# M7 N$ G- }6 u; W9 o t: Y
ability of androgen products in our society may
+ n* H3 N1 o3 |: E9 _# Y4 U0 jindeed cause more virilization in male or female
$ G- G$ u( u. h% p3 echildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-; }4 w( N! {( |# ?$ I) V
gen products must be considered and specific ques-
Q& n6 T" L: E& O; `: `tioning about the use of a testosterone product or' l- j* Y. {$ z/ T+ M4 U
gel should be asked of the family members during5 h: r$ r; n6 N w3 i
the evaluation of any children who present with vir-% r* K j: Z) O+ a8 r8 R% H
ilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-- ~' _. @! }* N) n4 E3 D; |
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by
3 j5 D2 X3 `2 k L) ]1 A6 Jappropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
3 K/ K( Z+ y# K6 E8 d( {" Khistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may
1 q$ N J% R' C& x5 }- W5 K y# [result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive7 n+ D; j* g) Q8 X
investigation. The primary care physician should be
3 @( z& N1 F. y+ B3 m) K W! c+ ^8 Taware of this fact, because most of these children
% r* a1 ^7 ?8 t5 `( Jmay initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
$ P$ H' y2 ]5 b7 U/ iDesk Reference and package insert should also put a9 E' m4 c0 T3 u) e" \; f+ D* f9 T
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or; a. K7 E {7 Y1 e7 f. t8 X
female child who might come in contact with some-
8 U O1 ^1 N" F4 @2 Q) Y9 K2 _one using any of these products./ u3 y1 p. w3 w( A; ~# r" @
References9 p& G# S N1 a3 k3 Q2 U+ \
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
9 w& b0 A7 B/ [ D% m band puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric( i6 H5 p* f4 ?" M# D5 Y
Endocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;
e# I; e- [0 I0 P2002: 565-628.% R T% u2 R/ B' d
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious
1 R% y3 Z, ^$ S8 S) w9 J4 G4 w$ B" apuberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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