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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old3 O$ e% ~% l- _7 S/ @4 {
Boy Induced by Indirect Topical
, y \5 \- S, ?: u/ O/ B, fExposure to Testosterone
$ ?' ]/ i9 G# uSamar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2 d& o' A! e4 U- ?
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1
. l9 p2 g; B# \: n% w8 L* f$ X7 KClinical Pediatrics" q6 w3 q) r* _0 Q8 z) w( b
Volume 46 Number 6
: T2 \' U0 i9 W4 Q0 JJuly 2007 540-543; x9 ^- G$ X" s
© 2007 Sage Publications
% N0 ~7 _6 X. T2 R& S$ r10.1177/0009922806296651 Q0 S. G8 K+ q1 p" V; _
http://clp.sagepub.com; k3 ^: x, G# U1 b) L' p2 u$ t0 w
hosted at& F3 i B& R! b; C$ _; f$ G
http://online.sagepub.com
* W# K( K3 z/ M# t! b+ [* @& H; pPrecocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,; {6 c) s0 ~8 C/ m, Z. w
is a significant concern for physicians. Central" y8 @0 G% |7 T. {5 _
precocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
6 A( v( ?$ G7 b, L3 Ethrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has! e5 O' {9 W7 }" P e
a higher incidence of organic central nervous system
; l- {) l& A' c" p- |lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
8 T; n, B0 a | s" _/ jby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic. t- z' {, j, V, W
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-7 @( p& [& r" b. r3 D
cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We3 k$ j r( m. s9 n
report a 16-month-old boy who presented with the8 S* E- w }. d% o8 e
enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-: |3 B8 j5 {! D7 a( J! K( Q
ment without testicular enlargement, which was due) O; L5 E$ f6 W
to the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
M" U9 ]; R" s7 A3 _9 y8 j- Ethe father. The family initially concealed this infor-* H7 |" q- U6 w. Q! d
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this
- K) G p9 s6 O0 T, W+ ?8 ~7 M- Gchild. Given the widespread and easy availability of4 j: S$ G: z3 n$ G4 ^3 u7 W# U
testosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
& i. l# ]2 b8 g P( ybly more common than the rare case report in the" \; O! e) Y8 G; q, p
literature.4
( {1 \) j* z& o2 m3 m5 ]8 {/ MPatient Report
9 ~$ t7 W5 r, Q. A! xA 16-month-old white child was referred to the" r8 U) u+ e' k& V6 l
endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
. p" P9 O6 z6 s h& [% Iof early sexual development. His mother noticed( y! S8 x& g6 \0 B$ u/ g p
light colored pubic hair development when he was
4 y8 G2 ^# ~/ {! y9 u) l8 b J. _9 }From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
; K2 ^+ Y( l- Y: H" b( |5 }South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.' O/ i' n2 D% n: M1 Y) N) @9 p) i0 M
Address correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,2 G) {8 Y+ h- y+ C+ R" I
Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
3 i: o( i0 h o- |Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;
6 _$ n0 L. i$ ]$ I% R( j- be-mail: [email protected].4 n) v8 P" j1 P
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
' k2 P/ V5 A1 M1 Rdarker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
6 n2 d7 v' K- c! x6 V/ B& _! S; \ment of his penis and frequent erections. The child7 ~2 b' T) i1 m2 s# T3 m7 o
was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with+ S3 q2 @# T9 d# `" n' g; m- K, S. b% _% H
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of3 Z# J O4 d- j6 f% ]
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year: n) R& y4 u" H2 ?8 _
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with
3 g+ [3 R* N1 lsolid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,
3 n6 f) k9 x" o% j, Qand his psychosocial and psychomotor development V8 D9 C+ {1 m H& V( l7 a6 y2 P% l
was age appropriate.( Y5 B9 r9 x. T8 ~+ E
The family history was remarkable for the father,
1 i4 A! Z! |% F- Z/ Z. R N+ \who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,
" F6 a! I8 X' D, q, G- R( qwhich was treated with thyroxine. The father’s
( _; s+ {" E5 U- Z1 b1 s1 F( ^3 Oheight was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat
! Z. K. P% O/ \# P2 Cearly puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.6 E& n1 S- R2 B9 D/ N8 x
The father denied taking any other medication. The
* D; U7 f! t( D) w w! wchild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche% m2 Q# Y3 ~; y9 k! q0 {% b- g
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet
1 `5 `, y: p5 O5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-' s2 |# d2 I' N# M
cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
/ f* P0 u( C2 }% [3 ~tives. There were no siblings.- \. f6 E" p: @' c" w
Physical Examination1 H% I% p% U/ R; K! i8 `, V
The physical examination revealed a very active,& O7 D( }5 N2 z& B1 X) k
playful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented* p" s; X) l6 B$ R; B
a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was7 P. ~: ]* c" u$ J3 t$ V3 ^8 F
90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg5 S1 \0 N& ]- Y& G8 \
(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth% l3 K0 b. c* P% z. @
velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of& @9 \7 Z4 f: ]
the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.
F# `; N0 g7 [! \$ u/ JThe genitourinary examination was remarkable for
: l1 o( b1 E. r6 j3 Menlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of7 Q' g P" \) ^
8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well2 l. [/ W* i! c7 _/ P) ]7 ]& Z
developed. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around9 N6 A# M4 w8 h+ v1 B+ A) {" R! Q
540: u/ }% j+ e3 m1 P. I. M1 n: d+ y
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
: {) r2 K8 H! E9 J Mthe base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The
) f6 v3 j) \) @( x! t6 `. ztesticular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.# R" Z& C: Y' }% X
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat
: T2 b% f8 V2 s! B, Voily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
- G3 E/ x, Q6 [! x# i& L/ k1 cabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.
( }+ h4 U/ @6 A/ d. rNeurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
( F# G' s5 m% O% z; m/ `. x5 abilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion9 [" `; L' x G! m7 j
of papilledema.
1 P4 l1 n$ l( p1 u) `5 HLaboratory Evaluation
4 r8 ?: E9 @- S+ D2 ~7 S3 D: g) |The bone age was consistent with 28 months by$ f1 @1 j; w) l0 H+ ] u; e
using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-
/ i' J& P# I, Alogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal
, a/ h4 V [: S8 G, |karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test
; s, O0 I0 u+ ^. |7 L# J: A3 _showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-
6 V+ X3 i; P" m j! {9 n8 _1 p! Xlating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).
$ L7 ^$ _- z! d/ E. iThe concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood: w2 J& f! Z, o- J5 t$ D
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were+ c- U; P/ j- [) b* D( k
within normal range for his age. The concentration q* ` Y! `5 x0 _4 {
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL) B+ t# R7 [! z, p* e4 @: _
(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20
/ K* b& s- P& @1 l! G5 S' Vng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
' l2 v% Y% T' k$ e6 \$ {- X0 |terone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
* w, ~4 B4 L$ Z* @; Y, Gdesoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to
0 L$ d' u# C$ x/ J& y, s5 `49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S) z+ u5 i$ t7 ]: k/ w3 b
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-1 z- k A0 p- t0 H: w
tisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total! c9 L8 ~- d# |$ z, Z
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),+ b: i4 n6 c# N3 z/ c0 R; }
and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than& d/ L0 ~; c- s, q' l/ _
5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
" ?1 U$ Z% k& f4 O9 d' Z6 G) \5 cstimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone& L" [9 f1 u4 |
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
* |% z- c* G; \1 z. ?( ^(prepubertal).8 s3 O$ g# l ]* w# r. N/ H- d4 ^
The parents were notified about the laboratory* P9 \5 B8 K6 L
results and were informed that all of the tests were% q) m9 g- ]! x$ I6 n* w/ i* m
normal except the testosterone level was high. The
* g3 v1 w9 i- Rfollow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to
9 ~: w- D; J) z3 E6 r* z+ x# R8 R6 iobtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-
V7 p2 i% J8 T' D' v! e% ]ever, the family did not return for 4 months.! ^% c" ]% G8 N7 o, H1 [4 Y
Physical examination at this time revealed that the
' ?- ^* h; R' x" Ochild had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained* `* v4 k, r x4 ^1 v, l7 ]9 T
2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
4 a! q/ x: j2 ?& R3 Y kunchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-
5 k3 f6 [& }$ M! S# I+ ^9 _9 Dpletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at+ w. l& y8 r [2 @) s9 j
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
! }& M# y% m0 Y0 o* Y# v3 ^! PmL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.4 F) \. U- l; a1 _# z( {7 }
The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-
$ e4 s$ ?# f" N7 k6 {, _ing frequent erections.- E. j' {4 I3 s! D* Q& M
Both parents were again questioned about use of! K. d) x1 h/ q( M+ y
any ointment/creams that they may have applied to3 J: _! b3 P$ [" T9 s, ^
the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the
1 v' R, I6 X9 Q6 }' F1 f2 d8 B1 xTopical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541
+ u$ u5 S: l. @4 |6 A. I) R/ \: Luse of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-
- \7 z8 n5 \) x0 e, fing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for
/ p0 W C9 G+ w0 {5 aa year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed
$ l7 M: a+ h5 w: V" pto disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-, ` @3 H) Z0 R1 H( T- A3 @
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido' j; [. ~5 k2 Y# Y2 U- e- t7 S
secondary to depression.
" }' ~* Z7 c" g4 y4 dThe child slept in the same bed with parents.- ]4 |) ^$ J Q7 D A# ^ u
The father would hug the baby and hold him on his
# T1 {: U4 }# h1 m6 G N1 R' z! mchest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-# E) Q8 ^& i# B( p0 O/ U) v
nificant bare skin contact between baby and father.
- p6 t8 N$ t/ }$ E& oThe father also admitted that after the phone call,
/ s' N* [) p9 \8 T% U3 h9 Nwhen he learned the testosterone level in the baby: V! n. p7 h' h& W% X
was high, he then read the product information# N/ E4 t9 u9 E9 s0 H7 |, I
packet and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
2 y& s5 D' P- Eson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they
) S1 B2 _ \ u4 wdecided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
4 K. ~: r% ?; U# u# C" _father was not hugging him with bare skin and had @+ r9 [ L5 D+ l) }1 d
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone
4 k ~5 ^ X( r8 Ftest was ordered, but the family did not go to the4 N1 s! K4 V9 ]5 W8 f8 H `/ ~) F
laboratory to obtain the test. v8 U3 T4 @6 p. w( S5 I& z1 X
Discussion
$ z6 q6 f) A0 m/ n7 EPrecocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary& P+ `1 o( j4 [8 I3 ?7 o
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4% _/ q4 S" \6 J: j5 P, B; ]
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
% d% q# t: Y. @$ }" K7 Y- _it is caused by the premature activation of hypo-5 @& u5 n4 N! d5 D5 K
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-4 }( M; P9 ^( z; j; C, p! G: c
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP
# R5 ?: M, K- \0 B/ amay have a central nervous system lesion that is
8 _9 H* r* R& S0 e! _! sresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal-5 |6 j8 u/ G/ z1 ?- X$ B
amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-% s( G' r2 y, a* P. T. s: E
sis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in
9 ]* ` h; b( o3 P! fboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
: g k6 f. S' Kization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
# h+ W6 N3 x( t. `) e, \5 T& a$ D: R7 ]rical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
- m' B# K5 m* j; j2 ]! wgonadotropins.1,3
$ i8 v) P" X F% K1 J' tGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-
% R9 s- _" _9 c* r5 }4 E+ @3 scious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate+ D! P% F5 V, e4 P% J/ E; V6 z
androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or1 K7 { p- c2 T. n! X! E
exogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-
) y2 h) Q. m; R& ` I$ L# b8 Bulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
: X) ^7 v$ c4 Pcongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive% n0 W6 l0 Y0 O. l) T
adrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
: r5 z" S6 r- R# zpuberty in boys.3,4
" l# j" Y& I; c. T4 c+ a+ vThe most common form of congenital adrenal
j; Z: X, w' b: i0 @3 F+ `2 {% khyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.! B O8 d+ m0 b7 I6 c
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
" X4 l. L8 e8 texcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,
* u+ }3 L, _! A7 z1 Oan adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
8 c" e% i5 r, m uexcess.1,3* W) _8 @) s# _6 q' l
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from9 C( D3 Q& G' J# y6 a7 N: H9 r
542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007
8 |0 x" a0 k9 w' k. vA unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-+ q/ w C9 Q2 X* p1 U2 j3 T/ J
independent precocious puberty, which is also known1 z5 O2 @0 k) R" I9 A/ o' K
as testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a+ I1 O! S% S9 y/ }$ U. p7 D) x! g( E8 M
very young age. The physical findings in these boys, Y- d: ^5 R! i3 A
with this disorder are full pubertal development,, i, X) l; Q7 r
including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys
$ s; \' b! R1 F/ A' _% pwith CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder$ S, c! {8 I8 w
are suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show& ?. {3 C5 o" R8 B0 i& ?( t
pubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
% e7 N4 f3 I+ n' Treleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked
) p" S+ A0 Q$ e* s3 u! y( M$ [* vautosomal dominant disorder that affects only" z: U+ Q7 q6 t8 q
males; therefore, other male members of the family
5 U- [! s, P6 j* ` ~( Smay have similar precocious puberty.3( M9 W; h3 ?! v3 P- |) v* m
In our patient, physical examination was incon-
2 y0 O& [& R& ]. ~$ Zsistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-. F! ]6 R/ y; }# H, q- a8 u
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis& y1 E1 F) H/ d! n) h
was in the differential diagnosis because his father4 d! Z8 b3 r. d1 \: v8 L+ ^
started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
, f1 ?2 l( [3 y4 K4 Ptesticular enlargement is not that evident in the
" y2 q/ ^6 d2 i1 N" ~7 ]beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-- }% [4 ^) \" I1 K9 h
ative initial history of androgen exposure, our
. R2 d, ?* L7 T# `& n5 C/ \9 D" xbiggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
; w5 j. L+ T- c# B) P& R& Beither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
' |( _, Z+ l0 m0 G; [$ X' qdeficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
* }, w4 v* u' a# Ding the normal level of adrenal steroids.
a, h1 {7 s; |- S* KThe diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
4 l& O( S" U1 bsuspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
( y. n, w5 V; @! Fthe physical examination revealed the complete disap-
7 f, a6 ]4 o0 g( s5 J: Y, }pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and
: ~; x4 U: {& b. k9 Jdecreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-
w# N) Q' G! T/ L& ?- |$ Eterone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was) Q- s) w. x) F% H) O' D) L- m
using it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’" o4 O; h% j9 f( }2 `% r; l
Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or
" ~4 e, c8 T( U+ Q: [. Zcream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to
* e6 e! ?: A N8 Z6 \unprotected females through direct skin exposure.; R" T. E! c1 W2 R/ x4 }- _ m
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the
- A( G. t4 i% o' `- k' Obaseline value in those females who were exposed to
) ]1 p- S: u4 j- Y8 T! i% h+ }even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male. f9 _) N3 E# K* X
partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-: u4 P) K: F2 N
tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
/ n0 w5 P: S+ `3 B' Y( U! j8 B, rOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,
5 Q5 m! J/ O2 j- k$ }/ L& Gwhich was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
% z( U4 R! D! n. s# T7 Idermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-8 V6 V! o* ~. W ?, Q. n/ f
terone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more2 J; z# Z1 a8 M: Z' {4 d5 |
active in young children exposed to testosterone7 ?% `2 w2 s4 M( D
exogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-; |) D# V+ H) ]& C) w! _2 m
drotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to9 L' W: f3 j3 A" n9 [& y A
virilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
4 E4 K' y& U3 I+ M9 ? mchildren results in an increase in growth velocity and
# P8 B) U; C- Qadvanced bone age, as seen in our patient.
" A8 S- Q$ P+ t I% ~& X8 gThe long-term effect of androgen exposure during
* {3 u! _- V. T: |7 s: B3 L6 xearly childhood on pubertal development and final
! O: w7 z* R$ v+ {, o* eadult height are not fully known and always remain
6 e; i. d6 I# ^7 r( u6 r+ wa concern. Children treated with short-term testos-
4 I! E1 a, {6 n+ x' n* u$ w% Tterone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some' L9 s* L: z8 U& U) F+ Y
acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after
! x& |0 P! P; {cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation
/ ^1 g2 g& Z" ?* l6 zdecelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,91 t, Q% k! F" W* ^. D6 V2 X3 F
There are conflicting reports and controversy
) ~7 }, u, Y) n2 z' C6 U2 Lover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult/ |1 x# c6 F" H1 N1 B! A
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal
6 ?) Q# {' \5 I) H# j5 x+ padult penile length, apparently because of downreg-" a1 g$ {/ ^1 o7 j
ulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,9 U! r, Z/ I7 P$ A
Sutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
; T2 F/ o) q3 uchildhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult- q* \0 q6 [2 J. q, S6 b6 J. S9 Q3 Z/ B; ^
penile length in clinical studies.
5 Q/ f- C. z) Y& FNonetheless, we do not believe our patient is7 o. P& H7 l2 D4 W, f
going to experience any of the untoward effects from1 Y5 M+ |# {. D5 O
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because9 A1 [4 [9 n& j& P3 G
the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.0 Y6 ^+ `+ k, k, T) Z, W5 L# q* X
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of
, Q; o$ e* W! S$ G% F; ]; Ediagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at
/ O0 B3 ?3 p# x, V! I7 ~6 Ythe follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult! R9 H+ ]/ M7 T7 c9 v. k9 M% p0 s3 o% R
height will not be affected., u& W3 d+ n* g% E$ C- B3 f
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail-
0 I; z- t1 \0 Q) J& L; G& S3 x( Tability of androgen products in our society may2 T/ B- O& H0 L; k6 B
indeed cause more virilization in male or female
7 c8 ]+ K+ ?4 X6 z" T; @1 F% vchildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-2 y% T3 @) y2 T+ u: V; ]
gen products must be considered and specific ques-
" q3 V! S6 S W& x9 N7 etioning about the use of a testosterone product or4 X; M5 O! }; a% `
gel should be asked of the family members during3 |" ]3 j8 E( k/ j7 L
the evaluation of any children who present with vir-
1 h j# }; O0 |$ Wilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-% y0 ~% ~1 [3 {4 Z' Q) X1 |: u
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by2 T; r2 b9 ^7 K8 \; e# E# t
appropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
1 G4 I" G: E; J+ z1 Mhistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may
. v" H8 J Y- U4 j! V. ?result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive( @! [. e6 p \4 r+ e
investigation. The primary care physician should be
; t; z5 }, `: saware of this fact, because most of these children
7 \4 p$ n6 F6 k3 Q" t/ K6 Jmay initially present in their practice. The Physicians’0 K: g( T/ W5 I8 Z) O+ k' A6 Q2 Y
Desk Reference and package insert should also put a" M5 l) H- `0 |7 V' Y) W
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or
8 e) Y, G" L; N+ t7 {/ ?female child who might come in contact with some-
, [9 h: D' L, \one using any of these products.
, U6 t- k* N$ VReferences: ^% e. v' z u4 y
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
1 \# z. @, A$ \% R% u# Z0 m3 `and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric
]5 g+ o, i% \8 FEndocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;* f! b9 ~3 W# [
2002: 565-628.6 T7 `8 f' K) U" E' W( j# {& ^
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious
6 x) v9 J( ^% A1 kpuberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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