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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old, r6 q9 `, ?# D7 s
Boy Induced by Indirect Topical
" W a! O7 t' QExposure to Testosterone
9 I8 Z4 ]3 I. J- \$ I! VSamar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2* T4 w% w6 V! r! `
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1' g" ]3 Z$ ^2 S0 `5 v4 Q6 t
Clinical Pediatrics9 R$ ? g- i8 M5 d! D: y: ^1 x
Volume 46 Number 6
) I0 ^$ L$ G u) t/ zJuly 2007 540-543
0 Z$ E0 y. A+ ^, n. N4 s© 2007 Sage Publications2 g$ F4 A/ H, i, ?
10.1177/0009922806296651
6 k& ?8 R# }5 c9 F: o) ~+ J- j. [, Thttp://clp.sagepub.com
; \) j, r7 r W. ^1 L8 D& phosted at
: s+ U$ e, ^0 L# C2 W' s# [http://online.sagepub.com
A# v, _. b! J% B3 W1 ], f- PPrecocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,. Z' L d( d4 Y3 ~, J3 t
is a significant concern for physicians. Central
, M/ p1 p! a( N3 E5 o r3 aprecocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
4 X6 I' W7 e( O4 L/ jthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has, ?6 [" H" u8 [2 j. v
a higher incidence of organic central nervous system
$ |1 u& o% a' j; g: C1 Alesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
& z9 N& j! T* N" O5 Zby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic( z% z$ J- e( d7 G6 H" u
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-' I Z" v% H$ F- m+ d
cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We4 }! { Q6 R+ v5 X/ c; H& r
report a 16-month-old boy who presented with the
7 x$ q: P9 T+ X: G0 U* Q! denlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
/ S+ G; ~1 F) D6 Zment without testicular enlargement, which was due
. C0 f4 n; N9 ]9 p! e% o2 M+ pto the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
% g# j8 A) E$ f+ e5 d4 o5 Ithe father. The family initially concealed this infor-+ G7 i/ X1 Q, Q" d" y
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this
H8 ~& {/ H, o) Gchild. Given the widespread and easy availability of9 l$ X0 o- v. U( e, F
testosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
! s8 G/ R* T7 X6 _bly more common than the rare case report in the
; j( d( K9 m/ q8 N. Dliterature.4
* ?4 V# Z2 {. Z1 E- T( B' m3 qPatient Report
# X) ]2 \2 G1 S8 a& v# a9 GA 16-month-old white child was referred to the
3 O+ _% T8 o, Q$ n6 m7 V; s; ~endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern3 S& y9 P9 d& S* \+ \2 D
of early sexual development. His mother noticed
9 l8 t2 k: }/ ^/ y! o" Y' Llight colored pubic hair development when he was/ w. N8 S7 M3 d9 Z. h, X X9 S
From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of, m! @% R7 K, j
South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama./ e! Y- S0 t5 H
Address correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,8 d3 Z, y( r; Q( g* p$ A
Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
5 d) b0 Z$ @+ h" `6 n2 }Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;9 E0 r1 Y/ i- u2 t6 a8 T
e-mail: [email protected].* ~1 N1 U" w3 A6 G3 F! P+ U
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became7 m: C( ]2 D4 y4 ?/ J- {+ c
darker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
+ l$ r, ?( i$ o y. H4 kment of his penis and frequent erections. The child
" j) @* }0 O3 }5 ^ v: }/ E9 Twas the product of a full-term normal delivery, with
9 }8 Z. y- |5 ]0 Z5 Oa birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of
) H, P' o% n# X- h# B1 J5 F20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year
! c/ u$ u: @5 B6 `. B6 S4 v0 w2 }1 vof life and was still receiving breast milk along with
2 T5 m$ R- k, |* k* M8 F0 Xsolid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,1 N: J S. E" ^ v* R
and his psychosocial and psychomotor development
b: i7 f. Y& u5 f6 m" @was age appropriate.
" G( i6 z$ l( t) R+ [0 L5 ~The family history was remarkable for the father,
c; l5 X9 _% E! }; Lwho was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,
/ y% A, U9 q; Q. H& L7 e' R5 Zwhich was treated with thyroxine. The father’s( p& V: C3 g1 n8 b4 k6 M4 \7 v' k
height was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat* ?4 A' Q, `8 X" T& R; \6 ]
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.
' ?3 y; T/ O1 l2 TThe father denied taking any other medication. The7 W8 c% o f+ e/ B
child’s mother was in good health. Her menarche% C( {3 W( S& z3 H; _7 u; O9 ?' c ]
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet/ V9 M$ Q6 w3 N) g/ S/ o) T
5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-2 ]: ]6 y: S. n. d! n1 n4 ?
cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-: _# q/ l7 x4 M) V: @( w# I( X
tives. There were no siblings.
$ H5 o) p8 _0 s9 KPhysical Examination) h1 M$ _( Z$ D7 R* C1 H4 L
The physical examination revealed a very active,
8 Z- I; P7 _6 _9 J, Z x3 lplayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
% R% V# S j/ t! M: Oa blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was
; o1 d m5 U# y( }7 A90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg
- r/ ?5 G3 m; q3 o(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth. l" d+ [& Y& l' g! w9 F, a- F d
velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of# F- `9 X, }7 q2 o& c: t
the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.+ k) H$ T2 |7 Q5 r: x) q: D& Y
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for9 s' b- p4 m0 m- C$ r; C$ ]9 B
enlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of
4 ]) m+ d, Q$ y: c: I" M3 X8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well8 ?' @! I, d% ?4 ?7 L5 h2 N
developed. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around
2 c2 W3 b, r/ M" p7 ~540+ k1 c: y3 V/ G9 u; d, p
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from5 Z2 q ?1 }, l- q8 u; L$ R
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The# C5 e8 X$ J1 G% d
testicular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.1 x" \& V. g J1 w
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat6 _& z* U, F$ S! V
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
6 \" {4 I3 B9 e% xabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.# N4 [- |# [+ W% C+ s
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
+ a4 h" S( b# s1 h. B' R3 Pbilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion
7 n+ y" O6 ~" g# I {( fof papilledema./ a5 T3 r0 a) n& C4 W$ j, n
Laboratory Evaluation+ c, H$ A4 ?1 [, N3 v
The bone age was consistent with 28 months by$ w* U& Y3 w3 M2 H; Y( W
using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-) f. b/ y% N9 ?" v8 c) v! }
logic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal: m; n" ?. |2 J2 N) v
karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test
4 n, @+ M* h9 S" _showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-3 v: h3 i8 R: O) r
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).
0 }* e. t- n# ^# ~" a, cThe concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood
. x/ g, N$ x# K' R' a0 `$ Burea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were% {# M; n5 @4 ~
within normal range for his age. The concentration
' B5 v9 C8 R8 `% M& L0 ~9 Sof serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL) m& j% X" G. n6 z% w5 s4 G
(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 201 z% U' ^# a4 e0 I; S7 z8 F
ng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
3 D& V4 L" M: T+ o. q+ ~7 mterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
3 @3 i( C& h# B: `5 Xdesoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to
* S! I5 X! G1 C' w; L3 Y$ e1 l49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)
- v+ A: J0 y, `9 xwas 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
x4 j8 [6 |. ltisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total- B9 g$ L5 H3 k2 ^
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),( A, c/ D* ^( ~: g5 I
and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
, Z4 Z: Z# O: Z( Y d+ Y# K7 G' b5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
* n7 N4 z3 \5 Z) N4 F$ D" H" Hstimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone! t1 w) x7 G& g* {' c6 @2 d
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
5 ?3 [, e! z m- _, ^(prepubertal).
2 j( A! _! p; h0 e" u" iThe parents were notified about the laboratory
; l4 A. B, m( Z0 p; vresults and were informed that all of the tests were
3 D2 S) K# h9 cnormal except the testosterone level was high. The" r' ?- `. ^7 B
follow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to. f, b w1 q3 S) ?
obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-
( q" |& ~) d2 O& \* a& Y, |ever, the family did not return for 4 months.
, e% a m/ t$ H% ?! r. }Physical examination at this time revealed that the
" E( G9 R6 ]8 @child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
. D/ i$ _9 ?4 Z2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
* a+ N( s0 C+ ?4 Vunchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-+ B( X! `! R4 U3 w* ?$ G
pletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at" r' W% r7 p% u( s/ n% p( {+ {
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
% H7 s# m k, h' X, T4 K/ y5 H4 \mL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.- _4 R$ O; z* [' ^( @9 \5 @. ]! ?
The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-3 }) R2 E8 R1 A* r
ing frequent erections.' |* u+ g% F* H+ D+ x/ c
Both parents were again questioned about use of
& f, O [) |' J7 b q. H) Z7 S h5 Bany ointment/creams that they may have applied to
' y8 I3 i# N! l$ P: M) G/ \, gthe child’s skin. This time the father admitted the
9 L0 R, w, D* e+ O) Z& ?% ]Topical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541! z( B- f" p$ a
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-" E2 I% r) u# Y& Q3 X% W
ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for7 t; n! C; T/ j. G6 M' K
a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed
4 ~0 \! o# E5 O j& M1 k, Z5 Z6 rto disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-3 m" |2 u$ g& E8 M$ |1 H4 ~- A
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido
$ S. n3 u% c% \' a9 X) J) _0 nsecondary to depression.
4 [9 ?3 B. j: d. d0 y1 IThe child slept in the same bed with parents.
3 X$ Q- }: a- g4 i! F& \The father would hug the baby and hold him on his2 f9 ]+ B; ?5 d+ Z8 C) t' s" C6 s
chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-9 a$ M" T& E* z* w
nificant bare skin contact between baby and father.
& P9 ?4 N3 L' t. A6 tThe father also admitted that after the phone call,
8 H# h. |) _+ n( L5 _when he learned the testosterone level in the baby/ _9 l- }" P E2 b0 V
was high, he then read the product information
9 t% y& x1 x* Q3 b' A5 ?' ~" Gpacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
' n( s) e E5 L+ lson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they% p5 } Q, W1 T( F7 y W* H$ E" ^
decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
]" W4 h7 u+ `$ S' z. X2 gfather was not hugging him with bare skin and had
& r( u+ J8 M) Sbeen using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone: e9 I) R+ d$ _8 q
test was ordered, but the family did not go to the
) u e& K# j$ h; a: k/ [laboratory to obtain the test.3 f- s8 @# E2 V: I( g5 ]
Discussion9 Y. R8 k& k6 K! l' M6 L2 e6 e
Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary
) S, Y6 }9 _' ` X7 k, `, Osexual development before 9 years of age.1,4
7 W+ S0 k1 v0 b, K1 b' TPrecocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
: \# E5 L0 T* |it is caused by the premature activation of hypo-
+ Z9 H# M, |1 Q) ^. Ythalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-5 G% B5 D1 x$ d
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP
, _' y7 P* m4 s% g4 u8 o+ Zmay have a central nervous system lesion that is
! B6 c. u& x' a4 `. m' Eresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal-, k* s% |8 y$ W# L8 z7 \# P
amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-
) U; \. k% K6 m: w9 L5 E3 o- Asis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in) P; ~; s4 S' x' Z# G- b
boys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-! c5 v) X( ?4 l% e
ization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
) D& W* c* R9 ^6 a& Zrical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by8 U) r; L$ b/ S5 Y s* S
gonadotropins.1,3
0 `( a9 V" n8 z) yGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-
/ d& }! s) n2 h3 ccious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate* m/ s* G. j: S
androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or/ A$ f, e" G' F% a+ K
exogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-; t0 r# }- z7 F# |& e( ?, M9 P6 d
ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
9 v3 _+ W1 ^/ C" x+ Ocongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
& m4 \+ G- d, I# o0 s& @+ Badrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
& \1 \+ f/ F' | Opuberty in boys.3,4
, g5 ^. j. U5 j! c! q. Y( S) EThe most common form of congenital adrenal7 n O% v7 E$ U! [& G! Z" T* e4 V
hyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.
9 A/ j" Q) p" z" y# r" j3 zThe 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in) x. s ?9 o" C* i7 R! D
excessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,2 Z5 X5 _* \$ g% q+ T8 M8 M& ~/ C
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
8 g& ?" \6 _5 Lexcess.1,3
9 K5 {/ J3 y* B. x4 c* Xat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
1 O! l9 z7 l6 Y3 Z542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007# e/ d1 w8 r# S
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-
& ], `( ^ V& D5 S* _; Kindependent precocious puberty, which is also known# S# E. V9 N. N; ~2 A$ S1 I/ f
as testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a" V4 z# E; S& \' ]
very young age. The physical findings in these boys
% r& u( ?% R6 C; i4 u8 J$ c( q/ {3 m0 @with this disorder are full pubertal development,
: y+ ^$ A+ k, Q- G9 |% aincluding bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys# T- D" Z1 s- t& h
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder
$ k5 G; s$ M9 `1 d Xare suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show* E/ @9 u# h- z# k* J* @
pubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
4 O! s$ V. d0 T) areleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked
% W3 A+ n1 T# ^! F' [, X. _; W/ rautosomal dominant disorder that affects only
% ?; U- I. G8 w4 g: v* w" o0 Jmales; therefore, other male members of the family
5 q7 N5 N" h0 B4 m0 |may have similar precocious puberty.3
& V- d# P+ v1 h, U) A* K+ X) K( z! ZIn our patient, physical examination was incon-
8 K3 T. j6 J0 r6 a3 H% csistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-* R p5 q6 Q* s' H( c8 G% z) F, O
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis* V6 o; U% J) `7 U. }6 G
was in the differential diagnosis because his father
* @' N9 e# j) K& M/ C) Jstarted puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
0 a" r# j" U: ^' rtesticular enlargement is not that evident in the8 w, E% o# L4 u
beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-
0 E- R/ n3 `* ]7 x, r" \$ Fative initial history of androgen exposure, our6 z3 s/ V/ W# t3 c. _
biggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
1 M4 u. ?0 x( d( F! t. xeither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
3 `& {* y, D' N* j# V) @6 p" `% ldeficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
8 W" e" e; n" O& x. I2 ~! ]6 Aing the normal level of adrenal steroids.# d; t* D( ]% w. |$ Q+ o
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
+ X4 W% r8 }1 K2 s8 t- Jsuspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
+ O) g3 j1 `9 {+ k9 H! ^# U! ]; tthe physical examination revealed the complete disap-$ w- t+ f# |# w) P* U( q1 g4 q8 T9 f
pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and
/ H, R- o; r4 m6 `* h: I" c: ndecreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-/ W! S% [' J4 q% _; U/ X% h0 t7 Y! }
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
( N* C* d2 d* l# Iusing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’
4 n: o8 U! ]: H& A9 ^Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or% k, y+ a/ v) C- X# G; q6 B% I. |
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to* G# j, N8 `7 a$ H1 v* E
unprotected females through direct skin exposure.
8 E7 }" b* R: W( G) F7 z) _Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the) v" l5 t6 D/ ~& E! w
baseline value in those females who were exposed to
5 Z* P6 M: ?0 I) a; G* G4 Ueven 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male
8 l J" f2 Z# y6 S2 ]$ ipartners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-) }$ S+ ^- y# ^& h
tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.; b# H; C" w) O
Our patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,7 ?" c5 U [( j4 |$ [/ K& F2 h
which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that6 @& k: L# a3 j5 K
dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-
: c. @3 S5 Z) I% |7 M( l& j$ U8 d/ Z0 bterone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more7 F5 ]4 [% b7 F5 t
active in young children exposed to testosterone
. e& O8 c2 q5 L2 A! `! {exogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-9 s# t) {+ r9 Z
drotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
5 N# Y0 n" _: J/ |, i$ jvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
- v1 U) ?0 S! Y1 x8 |children results in an increase in growth velocity and9 I p5 a" }- @% ^3 V9 S
advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.# T: {) o0 \: R! g8 D
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during' L5 O' V; u) |; g7 c/ N
early childhood on pubertal development and final
& ~/ z" { e6 Y6 R- r: [, Cadult height are not fully known and always remain
% C0 [+ w, C2 F1 J1 k; V/ Ya concern. Children treated with short-term testos-4 k. P6 q* ~. u, l
terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some% K7 i+ p4 W, n- w! X9 R5 k5 \
acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after; Z9 E F8 g# e [, u: h$ m
cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation
+ z8 C; A3 p kdecelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
# Q8 i- q1 L, n4 vThere are conflicting reports and controversy
7 C7 f7 M) K' i: p8 _: J B$ aover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult
8 Z$ R( H7 ?$ \! c6 _! O- O2 b0 Spenile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal, N/ b0 y( g9 i
adult penile length, apparently because of downreg-3 ~3 F: O5 t7 M; W# v+ l C, ?8 L
ulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,/ r) p3 @, P* Q& R
Sutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
; e" G9 m9 F( C: F" C$ ^0 cchildhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult
9 f# i2 Z4 G/ {% }penile length in clinical studies.
- u' e' F1 ^8 @3 R! x- fNonetheless, we do not believe our patient is. {4 q$ A! \1 K' Q
going to experience any of the untoward effects from
& j4 T" d' ~6 u2 Ktestosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because2 F& ~; S) G. q1 u$ W1 C
the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.
( m2 j3 j S e4 G+ nAlthough the bone age was advanced at the time of4 @; F5 [! p9 d" T; x3 g( j: {
diagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at. s. |; Q8 K4 C, T: y! N
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult
( ?- f$ h$ h. V, `height will not be affected.
/ Z/ f5 z: @ k& {1 e& o# KAlthough rarely reported, the widespread avail-! V( v* ?( c1 b9 Y& c, r
ability of androgen products in our society may
4 [& K, F" I, z4 j$ L$ f! findeed cause more virilization in male or female
1 L" c: G" A" W" }children than one would realize. Exposure to andro-2 B: J2 y$ \/ F) H7 o, P/ `
gen products must be considered and specific ques-' Y3 z( Q4 @/ ^) [, F0 ~, f
tioning about the use of a testosterone product or; N* W- V; u: i* s) u1 j
gel should be asked of the family members during3 f0 D, D! \/ |9 H, X' r' x
the evaluation of any children who present with vir-2 X1 b( f9 I9 i# a( N( d
ilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-7 Z2 Q7 A- ~& h* M2 Y7 e- _1 _" {
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by
- R& e% V# w" L9 wappropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
' |0 Y# `/ _; E5 whistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may# [: a4 d0 a. H3 f& e
result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive
4 H, X l! g+ C! |' ?/ rinvestigation. The primary care physician should be
/ Z/ |6 u% a- z9 F& Qaware of this fact, because most of these children
- Q* }7 ^: |5 H. Q3 Wmay initially present in their practice. The Physicians’8 z& j9 m" v0 c- x
Desk Reference and package insert should also put a) O$ d5 i5 ~& }! V& ^% i( U$ R( H
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or
# b+ |" n# n" d. g5 r7 ~) P, b/ i& Qfemale child who might come in contact with some-
9 k& g9 o. o3 t; mone using any of these products.& x2 T$ X" E2 V0 m
References* t* c! F' F; f; S
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation& q! y) o) X0 d+ Y
and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric
4 U" y" l/ g8 W( ?# N( P6 CEndocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;. I1 i; q7 f" W
2002: 565-628.) g( k! p$ I" M% e
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious( ~5 |2 {0 T- m0 |9 _- q. v
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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