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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old# R! f5 u& C0 N
Boy Induced by Indirect Topical O% |2 c8 [+ g1 a0 v
Exposure to Testosterone
( Q) Q0 V2 k) z+ Y/ RSamar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2
5 x8 {: I6 e l) A1 y/ c# X7 Zand Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1 H6 V* F# ^, i0 E6 E" y
Clinical Pediatrics( P7 O s$ I- k9 _
Volume 46 Number 6
: ^' ?$ \' ? F! T8 S; yJuly 2007 540-543
4 Y& B; @6 v; q& u, \7 x- W2 x© 2007 Sage Publications
* q. E( ^# h% z) n0 `+ K10.1177/0009922806296651
+ u9 r. M% d. `, d) j5 k9 ]http://clp.sagepub.com
Z; O6 c8 X8 ?& l4 r! V& ahosted at5 f" _, c1 C& ]4 X* o) v/ K
http://online.sagepub.com7 J- S7 X3 Y$ v& `# _: s
Precocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,
7 C9 S/ D* r6 T: l! Kis a significant concern for physicians. Central* j B4 S0 l6 J+ {6 K
precocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
# x; ~$ j8 g* g# k0 Lthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has
4 }0 H( w7 P: O/ m2 ea higher incidence of organic central nervous system! ?" H$ R8 a& d9 g5 ~1 _
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
: p0 w6 m% o; H q! Q+ Aby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic! g# q5 i3 S' X, u$ t9 Q4 W7 O
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-/ G7 h7 {7 I8 M( w, r
cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We% E! Z3 g7 ?/ T( Y. {) V$ R$ O1 \
report a 16-month-old boy who presented with the6 w. q8 ]7 W) q+ o7 A ^
enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
6 j4 W# U$ C L* J7 g( tment without testicular enlargement, which was due1 \$ A6 |0 b$ F
to the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
# Q$ v4 p4 h4 {the father. The family initially concealed this infor-- w' O! E9 ?+ J- i
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this$ \/ v4 ]7 S, G. c
child. Given the widespread and easy availability of
% {* g7 Y J$ f" e ^5 stestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-. W0 D! f" S8 o+ |
bly more common than the rare case report in the ?! L9 r8 N% P3 ?/ v. T! v& w/ C9 q
literature.4
' _# o' D$ |0 b0 LPatient Report
% A9 m" n6 {) ?0 z$ E& tA 16-month-old white child was referred to the
6 U$ N) a4 ?! \endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern3 T- U( o! z# g, V- _. ]# K+ \( q
of early sexual development. His mother noticed
9 ], ~# e% [0 h7 Z$ X" C+ ]light colored pubic hair development when he was5 @' }3 I1 o3 V r' p+ i$ P$ C
From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of) Y* A9 O' W l
South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.
" ^/ S7 }: m+ R! ~7 V/ t dAddress correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
7 d+ G& e* |' }: i0 c1 ~; B3 GProfessor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of( J- M& ~- N' Q: a' |
Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;1 H* ]" _4 C( ]% k% Q3 @: i$ \
e-mail: [email protected].
, D2 c% R+ E/ I f$ Rabout 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became0 S$ ?8 F+ p/ ]$ n+ Q' R$ {2 i3 H c
darker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
6 v/ Q# r2 f% |. Dment of his penis and frequent erections. The child. f. Q1 E" Y; L: Q
was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with2 D0 w& [( Z; j4 C
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of
6 f* q. Z6 x. Z6 M z20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year
! g, F" D0 e1 Y) w9 |of life and was still receiving breast milk along with( L( \6 v" s p2 m! ^3 S0 u1 j
solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,
6 L2 m; e7 ?% C& @1 B* k; Xand his psychosocial and psychomotor development
$ v! n; f+ M1 Cwas age appropriate.
7 |1 E u: d# t+ w: Z# uThe family history was remarkable for the father,
3 |9 B* e/ ]( u; l8 F$ U1 _who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,# C! D+ V2 ?* P* C/ s$ b$ {
which was treated with thyroxine. The father’s
! m+ b# j, T2 d2 W. T3 `height was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat. a9 }% a* Q7 C1 n( U
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.
& D2 b0 o) e4 `: W1 k# NThe father denied taking any other medication. The
! ?3 {- c" O/ P& z+ kchild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche
8 N9 }& C4 B5 Kwas at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet Y: d2 F5 t J; r
5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-
. t8 W5 I2 L( m* j, j+ jcocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
) S7 v/ j0 }4 ]' {+ p/ \tives. There were no siblings.- ?$ r3 y: J7 j/ Q! @: S& d" G$ g/ \
Physical Examination
% ?9 D& d1 M/ Y7 k) UThe physical examination revealed a very active,
1 ]# e6 U& q$ j7 b* kplayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
# O3 a2 z4 K( F) `8 H; ea blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was# \/ {$ O) I3 Z: Y. t7 g1 u
90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg
~2 e3 T/ l$ J; }$ }) b2 S(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth. ]1 F1 Q; m) m
velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of
9 \- g6 c0 ~- |0 ?! P7 D( g* b! Bthe neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.
/ R+ \+ y" ^5 u; \ g" bThe genitourinary examination was remarkable for
5 H/ B! [& O$ \& C& ~/ m. v" K% _$ Venlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of6 ^4 o- ^- I7 t1 b# t
8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
: C% [7 ~1 ]$ m {8 Sdeveloped. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around9 O: l- t) G9 |+ g% {7 ^& J8 ~. y0 D
540
$ @0 h( m" u# @ N7 I% n0 @% S" w7 Iat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from( @) b1 G4 x: y: h) f/ i+ o. `3 @* B
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The
/ p' K0 W+ H5 x Z0 jtesticular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.
, n# }: H5 p2 Q" EThe skin was moist and smooth and somewhat% k1 X# c- ~2 t9 n
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
/ ]! y ]4 a4 Dabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.
% Z6 P( i. c p P1 _Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+7 |1 h0 y; c6 P6 ^! I5 i8 Q- t
bilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion$ x$ i8 O* ?0 K5 w8 I
of papilledema./ ?6 n" a3 J7 s# C, K1 Z% l
Laboratory Evaluation
# R) J5 i3 K% N/ GThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by6 B, {3 R1 o6 }8 A7 ?/ k3 Y) z/ ?
using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-
4 M+ r. T |. | f* ~5 C* Rlogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal
6 Y5 S/ _+ o! T9 h5 I* s3 ^karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test
' V. |4 B6 I8 M% p) v4 t3 u( Bshowed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-. j% E: E V% U: V) S- E
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).1 M+ V1 G% r7 {8 o9 D* u0 b
The concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood/ {/ }; y3 P# g* p3 O5 o
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
" v8 g: A @2 @( u# dwithin normal range for his age. The concentration
; u R2 D% {, Qof serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
' v- \: S" [& [( u" l4 } R' l/ e(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 209 r2 M; H# U' g" m
ng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
! L- L/ p, X0 p8 ]& l2 D* \terone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),/ ~3 i: }+ ]" f- U3 K6 Q; G
desoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to
1 w& ?1 r4 d9 W% C) P$ G/ K" D49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)
5 m# s. z: H* R' d$ R. Vwas 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
# Y0 y+ G/ D8 Q2 n; {tisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total
0 E- |+ V! ?6 s1 j5 P0 |5 X6 rtestosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),
8 _! c# u, [7 J; s" \3 m5 yand β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than6 o3 M% \* m; T# T1 e1 {! T2 i
5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
: [7 Y, o) |7 ?, h. I6 `stimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone; k5 E* q- M3 f# ?
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL7 @6 V* p+ n# ?: B1 s. m7 h" T
(prepubertal).
( E$ r! K$ k1 d) v/ u' c/ ]9 f- BThe parents were notified about the laboratory
, `; E" }4 }" J2 C4 {0 C6 h0 [results and were informed that all of the tests were7 d, V/ a; \1 x# S" W! O: ]3 P
normal except the testosterone level was high. The! j( e0 Z# Z* w L- q, O7 N2 X
follow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to
4 V, I- s: N7 H- Oobtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-; I ~) s% ^! q9 ^( ^
ever, the family did not return for 4 months.
3 S+ y: k4 r& Q* u" \Physical examination at this time revealed that the
6 X2 S& d+ {3 e. B, W( J: Ochild had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
5 r" }& T6 Y2 ]# t! d- A9 `$ a2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained/ u2 c) y& U. n3 D: h
unchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-( b+ w& | i: g& ]
pletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at
, I5 z5 B/ {1 \6 W7 Nthe base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
& m' A+ c, s" q* ^1 A7 P4 U3 PmL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.
& g1 R) t: D% AThe mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-
9 c3 L' f- h' d1 h' |( S3 @ing frequent erections.# z- G" H4 h0 G! e
Both parents were again questioned about use of
- z0 r0 u$ A0 ?, _: [6 D/ `any ointment/creams that they may have applied to
1 _/ O- ~7 Z+ z8 Othe child’s skin. This time the father admitted the
, x3 `; S. \! T5 C lTopical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541! x9 z. d! o6 a. M
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-
( z( l1 C; |7 L& L4 W1 O' D0 r; ging over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for
: X3 a3 K1 Z/ R) F, c4 b. P. b- Ra year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed3 e2 B- p, m; `( G/ \1 V+ Q
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-
6 Y. S7 f/ U, L( Z- L: uscribed by his family physician for decreased libido' @. c* u2 Q K; P% p& n" L
secondary to depression.) ]( }% X; W" `9 w8 K0 G! R/ Q c
The child slept in the same bed with parents.
! W8 z0 V- j Z% MThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his
, m% R% V H$ i4 Y _chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-/ o0 @6 H2 r, J$ {2 l) R0 j9 L8 k8 l
nificant bare skin contact between baby and father.( y- G# m, _. R6 }* _9 ^0 J
The father also admitted that after the phone call,8 p. Q$ G3 I0 ~
when he learned the testosterone level in the baby
6 `2 Q* K# T' E& e3 fwas high, he then read the product information
* t9 H6 h: v2 Y1 B0 r! @/ Upacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
( d% G9 v; r1 w$ U4 I$ L) Eson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they7 ^' z# b6 j- L1 V
decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the5 r) M7 h) j! I c2 u. d
father was not hugging him with bare skin and had
% S" u+ J3 d: K+ c- C% X' Zbeen using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone* d( G- U2 M5 U+ F( h+ \9 k! K& R
test was ordered, but the family did not go to the
; Q0 n! @! ~1 D' S1 }laboratory to obtain the test.$ x/ v9 R5 o% @# b
Discussion
1 b# g) p- I. m8 j/ z4 JPrecocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary9 Y/ S( i# w' F9 ]( f
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,44 Z: h. S% G9 g0 x/ C" ] ~/ S
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
( K& p1 A* J3 p. v' Y) V9 c0 o7 lit is caused by the premature activation of hypo-
8 m6 b4 q; b; h7 u( d) ythalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-
A- @- K2 a9 \3 ~+ l7 P3 y* Vmon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP
% S }+ d" \) L" ?, {3 Bmay have a central nervous system lesion that is
7 E* f: q3 ^0 s% o. aresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal-
1 w8 s, U! C2 j8 u, i. Damic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-% g0 J. g9 ^% L3 ?
sis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in
+ g [9 f4 c7 zboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
1 |, `7 J2 P$ a; T9 K; ` X4 tization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
; I6 b3 F& r7 I; J9 `. Drical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by% Z! s$ Q% U6 s5 ]& X5 j; G
gonadotropins.1,3# X. S$ v- Y/ j) Q' P1 N; x
Gonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-( z3 R' k9 A# s- t) Z" B' f
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate
, ^3 j4 Q }# M' z% O2 m2 t% _+ L- yandrogenic stimulation from either endogenous or
; g. [, Q, N8 n U& qexogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-
2 j6 W3 b, S: Y. R' {& ~3 D Z% dulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
0 z \, e) [7 c; K$ p: K( ^congenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive; \* ~2 D/ f" X! w* x/ b
adrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
3 Q0 y4 e" E) l$ m7 m& b8 c& Cpuberty in boys.3,4; C; T3 `' X4 I1 N' Y4 s
The most common form of congenital adrenal
6 v. V4 p2 h: x+ Qhyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.- n2 m( {. t/ l4 F! ]; P. o
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in3 i5 a! Q) [) g& F8 }
excessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,6 c/ j% R! }$ U
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen8 b7 L( \( S# E
excess.1,3" _7 P- j) t/ |0 R) u
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
$ d4 v7 \- i, y+ \6 `542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007: W* `8 R/ F, O/ U9 L2 k7 s2 C
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-
1 a2 I( {6 k, W$ r! Bindependent precocious puberty, which is also known
" O' T2 ^% g/ ^4 C' o$ G1 `& was testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a
+ J3 y) B6 z r, b N% N* ?/ lvery young age. The physical findings in these boys
: V2 W- B. B. m. N; r* g d; Twith this disorder are full pubertal development,4 f8 Y: p4 d6 J! O% b4 F& r+ j
including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys% \* v" U' S: [6 D& [
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder
/ z1 u9 O9 l' ^# ~; fare suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
- U! g' @9 {4 W' _% h% \* @pubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
- z" J2 T) U2 Preleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked" T" u7 g9 c0 f7 I: }1 a
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only
d* I6 G+ b5 \+ Z9 e Hmales; therefore, other male members of the family2 \& [' k2 ?; n/ A0 D( a1 C
may have similar precocious puberty.3
7 z3 z# A. T6 v) rIn our patient, physical examination was incon-
, `) O; G# B& C" T K4 y/ a* ?$ Vsistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-% p- k" S' f1 Q
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis) z! P: Y* ?( i% e! S1 q
was in the differential diagnosis because his father m: \, i& D2 e% h( \: y
started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
. v+ b9 H( U l* ]testicular enlargement is not that evident in the
( o, n0 P! B M% e4 _beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-
" N/ F, h* i& m2 A3 T: K ~2 f& ~ative initial history of androgen exposure, our" U Z' f) `: s3 ^
biggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
0 V" r0 f& Y1 p6 P; c- }1 jeither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase4 W! U# y/ P, A+ @ {. w9 v7 d
deficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-/ j: J8 d; D* j1 A$ C' O- B+ D
ing the normal level of adrenal steroids.
5 g- `# r2 ]( Z4 ?The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
) c4 E- @& |1 U3 V+ Z: Q5 Y7 }suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because( x/ |/ @) u, e* L. i5 ^
the physical examination revealed the complete disap-0 O3 _: ]1 k7 F' T" U8 O8 b' {
pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and
9 d8 J2 r2 S" n( \" B( ]" k( Adecreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-
8 t6 D2 j Y4 k7 Vterone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
$ v/ m2 A4 o# h8 ?3 h6 D: B" o# Zusing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’
6 V" s, X1 J* w6 E" E% r3 q: \Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or6 Z2 b5 [, |) l \5 ~( g
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to& P0 S9 Q1 j& H5 b, \0 X! }
unprotected females through direct skin exposure.7 K2 ?# r2 x6 \- J* g6 s- x
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the
$ u$ G0 [) @# `; R% g# obaseline value in those females who were exposed to
6 {; d# F( \) z: M+ {even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male
' A% `" M+ F3 O H B8 _& r: }partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-" }) l5 y- u$ U2 R
tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented./ Z' D6 U2 M8 S$ @6 C6 b
Our patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,0 f: P! h3 p% |
which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
+ r, w7 s6 j* o0 Q3 H6 ~" r$ G/ ?dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-
# _/ @2 P* Q% K, ~, c- X7 @terone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more# t; {4 h* @, ` @, G
active in young children exposed to testosterone! ]: z( V6 |- X3 n6 `
exogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-
+ n% Z1 k; E& u: V: Edrotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to: ?7 m7 o/ F0 x5 k
virilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
3 Z9 a% w( R& x8 gchildren results in an increase in growth velocity and, `: G) W7 }& g) `! s& W) a! ~
advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.% ^) t$ H9 R$ ?4 P1 Z
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during
, P. p2 a$ z% X8 B# u7 u) ~- j( Rearly childhood on pubertal development and final
' I- b: K! e9 z7 \! [0 S) j; Uadult height are not fully known and always remain
6 h9 L; L- `: p+ B4 E4 G, n7 P8 a+ ha concern. Children treated with short-term testos-% W- V1 Z% v: V% n5 ]
terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some2 t [: u3 d: ~! L8 ?
acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after+ O5 G1 V" E5 a* P+ |" z2 E
cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation/ A k; r D9 G1 t8 o( M4 Y# B: x
decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
1 N, g2 I; u1 L. k8 d+ T1 oThere are conflicting reports and controversy
( k; D; H, P$ X U' Kover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult6 n9 v8 X2 m; S8 E8 I6 r
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal! {5 E; n2 P" I2 g9 J
adult penile length, apparently because of downreg-' h/ Y, m& b }% s. d
ulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,, G% ^; \( u0 l' W, z- e
Sutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
7 U& ?% ~+ j/ Y1 h$ z6 tchildhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult' ~7 J( ]9 D* J; T2 C# C# b+ G
penile length in clinical studies.
6 x( C C0 s. O, r7 \Nonetheless, we do not believe our patient is
* U0 K$ F) ~! p" `) X2 \going to experience any of the untoward effects from
3 ^ G( } ?& e0 {4 A9 e1 A( {testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because5 n0 H9 ?% f4 g" P( [& T x( K
the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.5 J: `' V, |+ ^
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of* H: E) }+ P2 S: t7 o) f) r
diagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at
) T- j# v ]/ {' p0 p" x1 Vthe follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult( \4 U/ G: ]) Y% K: `: V' R: o+ G
height will not be affected.
2 J, y$ m9 ?5 V# N2 _% hAlthough rarely reported, the widespread avail-0 g8 y! r7 K: @: \1 J3 M( D5 l
ability of androgen products in our society may2 M6 r" J( x$ U" r
indeed cause more virilization in male or female
' c r- o; C2 i/ Echildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-
- v h P# p& r5 N5 J" a3 ^gen products must be considered and specific ques-5 k2 J3 D( D2 N6 @ _* |4 Q
tioning about the use of a testosterone product or
) |; P6 u$ h- Z3 Q, }gel should be asked of the family members during
2 f5 j4 _$ i: W* x7 b8 e& Q$ `the evaluation of any children who present with vir-8 i4 _+ _, y9 g3 M; [$ s
ilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-0 z+ F3 P6 E- }3 \
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by
" b# |- K' e5 a- oappropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
. h* p, A. ]- ?. v [$ nhistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may* C5 X# s0 i4 x
result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive8 A+ G6 n% }: M8 N& U" H
investigation. The primary care physician should be
2 _9 O4 d0 z. }! Daware of this fact, because most of these children$ ^9 x% o7 U# Y- Y9 q
may initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
7 {6 N3 i. @3 \+ u3 x# B5 m iDesk Reference and package insert should also put a
3 v# {, U4 r" @) o, s6 ]- M3 Iwarning about the virilizing effect on a male or
' j8 ]" X+ E" l% sfemale child who might come in contact with some-3 i. V0 w( U& a
one using any of these products.% o2 T, |1 t k( u: J1 [
References* K9 m* h# [, M- r1 |
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation5 k% v" ]2 E( L8 C/ ]: n1 f1 C9 J
and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric1 X: d6 O3 m- K# {; P3 ~
Endocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;- @. R; o$ h" Z, x% x6 C0 V; \
2002: 565-628.8 d9 K+ Y7 H( Q' X/ n. S
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious6 {" a* P: x5 ~9 C2 F
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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