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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old
N2 R$ p% |( S/ qBoy Induced by Indirect Topical
$ C( m7 E9 a0 w: k) \Exposure to Testosterone
- U w8 a# F& h; q- _6 T4 V6 MSamar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2$ i5 f9 w4 C6 w5 c1 N
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1$ y9 c: e: o6 T
Clinical Pediatrics5 p8 Q2 p: \# M5 U, Q9 Z3 x" h
Volume 46 Number 6
8 o" W& o: T: sJuly 2007 540-5434 \$ i$ N/ L8 _, J z; b
© 2007 Sage Publications$ X1 a' | c5 T7 C
10.1177/00099228062966513 _# \6 ~9 ]8 Y- V& y
http://clp.sagepub.com; l3 D& K6 K& L8 w
hosted at
- W$ V. R: E U: j/ f+ _http://online.sagepub.com
% i& h0 d8 G) @( I B" M" MPrecocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,2 \$ d! a5 m! D& L' [& W9 A5 F
is a significant concern for physicians. Central
& ^' d& r3 n6 A1 g0 V9 G3 ~, w5 c: pprecocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
. c) {# L: f) Uthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has
7 o `$ b k( N& }& [/ J( A/ e, sa higher incidence of organic central nervous system
8 H5 R, c* }' }" d* ~; S2 jlesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested4 H% V) g7 X C1 V8 y0 J- B) O1 }6 _
by enlargement of the penis, development of pubic
: H* S. }4 H' T5 K3 Khair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-
9 s, |" a& h. M3 l! I- ^cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We
! _+ \- b* O9 X' |7 yreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the
0 U+ W2 D! `% x3 n% `9 Y f6 |enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
. L6 s% J' M' o& Vment without testicular enlargement, which was due
7 F/ P& ~1 U7 \1 L2 L; jto the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
8 S' Z/ P6 d4 z( \! m( J+ ]the father. The family initially concealed this infor-3 P8 A6 F8 B( B' v, I3 F
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this& h4 w" X7 s+ L! j9 Y+ E. B) o
child. Given the widespread and easy availability of
; @$ p' O& Q; K. V! gtestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
- _9 N; A" Y' F4 r7 x; _! Ebly more common than the rare case report in the
m* p: T4 a; z% o, V2 aliterature.4- I' X2 p, z4 H- O* }
Patient Report9 \+ z- d, X4 _8 f n7 M
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the
/ y$ N- k8 b4 c$ P2 |! s% o7 qendocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
$ B c- }7 R/ C( bof early sexual development. His mother noticed
% h* i5 n" l/ [( T1 b& j. _+ k7 Glight colored pubic hair development when he was. {6 h. ]5 Z1 o# J
From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
6 F3 k E- G2 x: ~1 u0 uSouth Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.
/ E0 e* F1 w$ E+ x. E: bAddress correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
( R1 G5 A0 z2 X3 ^! R2 T1 `Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
/ d1 `3 p4 W2 QMedicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;/ i5 Y; t# r+ C! m; F" R9 B$ k2 y
e-mail: [email protected].
/ E) p$ i, V5 ]: b7 g* T Pabout 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
1 V2 g, o' e! {2 z2 \darker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-# |6 |7 G! P/ E4 e) X- \
ment of his penis and frequent erections. The child8 H9 O2 B, Z3 o3 T/ A5 v
was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with
4 o% M- X4 @5 T1 p7 |8 P" m# |# i7 ra birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of
2 X# }! Y- h& R# @& _+ s20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year7 v9 l. o# A' j) h3 a, \4 V
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with
3 a$ Q/ `9 i2 S2 |& x& V0 @solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,
3 u4 }* _; P- d& q! band his psychosocial and psychomotor development
7 I/ N- S! D* g& g$ e+ {5 B: ]was age appropriate.3 c( A7 h+ `- t, x- _; Y
The family history was remarkable for the father,7 L* P6 A' B3 M6 W# F
who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,6 p: O8 C5 G# a' u* m/ C, p
which was treated with thyroxine. The father’s
% B1 N( x9 g5 J! \2 K3 g! r( Dheight was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat0 h. b4 O5 U, L X3 I( y0 ~1 M
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.& Z# J) o4 T; v* L+ m+ M+ b9 o
The father denied taking any other medication. The
. I) M+ D" ]9 J5 r e3 Kchild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche
- W/ @/ G- K4 E7 x+ H- ]was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet
+ x- {+ f3 E: y7 w- x- v9 c5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-, Y+ |* J* \. ^
cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
" E2 a4 b1 `- E3 Y/ W% L8 v% gtives. There were no siblings.
0 z: d; f7 [" s) s( IPhysical Examination
1 r5 R6 `( w; T2 c7 D: LThe physical examination revealed a very active,
4 h! C, ]- B4 O3 j& L: o8 uplayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
8 T, g/ Y* r- X; F5 H8 }a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was
+ h1 V/ g3 E3 {2 D7 o0 U# ~/ T$ L0 @90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg1 s9 d6 t. o; |. Y6 j: r1 y
(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth
4 u( g) L* I$ w# t' T0 e) }velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of& m8 z+ i+ H9 |$ Z, z. P2 n% R
the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.6 r" I7 Z" g( b9 M* O! o$ L
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for, }) S/ @' k+ U+ _5 i8 o; G2 Z
enlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of
# S: E S2 X4 K- P8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
8 }% K$ l- I9 p3 D: Rdeveloped. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around
0 z s5 {3 I. G) q3 y1 w5 t2 C540
8 o! l8 T- W7 O& P% mat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
' O5 E% V5 j0 A$ ~* I: ^the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The" Z' Z0 G6 Y7 S# m
testicular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.' J }. ]. _2 X0 T0 S) K0 S
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat) @$ E' V/ q( p0 ~% a
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
/ F3 o& r. b! A$ b) C. F$ Eabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.9 B) q1 C% e9 M* x
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
) x7 C8 Y/ Z+ W; k0 wbilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion
/ l) n: ^# z) jof papilledema.
7 |/ d9 y0 C5 X% JLaboratory Evaluation
4 l( E. f( C9 h7 \" i* rThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by
9 n' ~: @4 e9 M9 m: R/ `using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-9 u' G3 s: }( Y9 h0 J1 T
logic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal
, R3 [" T3 o' v( F" Wkaryotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test0 ~3 [; N, ?: M! E, G3 Y# D7 k& a2 K
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-
$ \; t- {% [3 a% ^lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).
& b. O9 s6 a0 g, J$ S2 M1 cThe concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood" G7 V0 |& N( c
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
, S! ^% e. O6 a' X7 u4 f; F9 Twithin normal range for his age. The concentration% g* \4 b" _, ]( c+ k+ h) y
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
, w" P% {1 A" `& T" I# Z+ _( G2 K(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 200 p; l; r4 L1 O. T$ P! R
ng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
- ?: ?* L X! `7 M2 Uterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
7 K9 k2 A$ o2 U8 ]9 Idesoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to `+ u* f5 T& ~# e, ^
49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)
; @/ j5 S8 w# K; wwas 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
: q) K( G2 E8 |" f) l# y( Gtisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total' V, W" C1 v$ r! O$ f- ?/ P7 T
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),
# }: v) G, ~2 N, E8 V& \and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
5 Y0 Q9 \7 n4 w) a; E; l% N5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular0 {9 ^6 s4 C! g+ B( m8 i, s/ j" d9 C r
stimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone" ?! o) s2 w2 L* H- j9 t' B
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL& _7 s- L" |8 ^% a
(prepubertal).+ U- g. W. d# J7 U9 Q3 a9 e5 W- K
The parents were notified about the laboratory5 j6 S) Y! k9 Y, E/ G; h
results and were informed that all of the tests were
3 Q' B1 I+ j" z( N. f- q0 j( N4 Cnormal except the testosterone level was high. The
' E( j9 W1 |7 {/ Pfollow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to
! @; v a3 | ^* f- tobtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-
S- D7 N1 T/ h( }ever, the family did not return for 4 months.
+ ^& l6 u. Q6 v! \" |$ b$ cPhysical examination at this time revealed that the6 m; h: B0 Q/ w$ `0 A3 ~; Z, q8 U
child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
& o* V0 W' ]# k% Z2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
# Z& F3 X- Z, Munchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-
& _$ s6 S+ p" }# ]) z, Gpletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at
4 s* I( U$ b" C0 }" x$ i# l Athe base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
3 o5 `3 {. E) }: t% kmL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.) U3 O% r$ e2 f2 [
The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-) S5 Y) O4 `4 O3 ?2 }6 N, W: T. j
ing frequent erections.
! ]' E8 P; V( D8 B+ \Both parents were again questioned about use of* Q- ~1 ?! ^9 R. C7 w
any ointment/creams that they may have applied to) d& \- N6 s2 y8 a6 ?. c
the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the- o: W% w9 S- t' c: G" W m
Topical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541! _# M/ }" Y5 p0 P! g
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-4 b' a/ @- P- b6 p* x7 X
ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for
7 Z9 x- i5 f+ @: G( n& M) y8 Oa year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed, g5 j5 J/ @) T; B- q9 ^4 ]0 E, w& ^$ d
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-: o# i& b; \9 n1 m4 ^/ d
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido
: n+ B' U8 {* L; `; |7 Wsecondary to depression.: L- g6 d8 w+ {) f, U' |* Y
The child slept in the same bed with parents.
$ r* U9 e) E4 gThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his
0 Z0 n1 |- Z3 Vchest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-
) H" ~/ u w' u# E+ jnificant bare skin contact between baby and father.. p- G# ]" ~9 F
The father also admitted that after the phone call,5 w+ a% K D3 \( k/ f2 B; g
when he learned the testosterone level in the baby; R8 x$ }8 h1 L- ^
was high, he then read the product information$ x! ~5 ]* X" a4 G' A
packet and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
" }( t1 @6 n7 b N& G$ dson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they
% s- ^ A$ {1 Y7 K% @( E. u1 Mdecided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the; C7 u4 [% M$ V4 w) r) f& S
father was not hugging him with bare skin and had) v, _0 }( a6 o- v
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone
5 w6 `, I# m" Y' R3 f+ btest was ordered, but the family did not go to the
4 a* g Q9 C9 z% ?* i7 claboratory to obtain the test.
& F* f7 C2 g2 p3 ?; cDiscussion
' I3 @, R e- {( l# ~Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary+ k6 K6 o! i; L" D( h
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4: O$ c5 U6 N: E' d: M; A
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
" w G k/ v, w/ J+ Mit is caused by the premature activation of hypo-1 S% q3 s* l2 _1 `) g* C# n
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-. U/ u/ ~$ P2 l( I3 i
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP6 T: v* p: g4 p$ n; p7 H
may have a central nervous system lesion that is# j) B, C) h5 H, q! a# K
responsible for the early activation of the hypothal-
$ l1 U/ A0 F9 X7 `6 V, h1 q8 Xamic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-/ T( ~% y# o. F, d, m
sis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in9 R4 B9 V0 |7 d. }7 b
boys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
. U/ n% h9 @' `- Rization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-' d& D* r( s* e6 T, t+ c3 K
rical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by$ ?5 i ?/ C; v) o
gonadotropins.1,3
8 i2 s [7 |) }5 ^Gonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-+ ?; @' L# ]2 ?& r8 b6 B) w$ T8 h
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate
. U$ D- h2 Q9 J+ j, s, L9 candrogenic stimulation from either endogenous or
; `2 n' R5 p1 b* x2 e. Cexogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-4 [. o9 g- a2 N6 N, E% a j
ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
. b D9 o/ |9 N' M: mcongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
% C) w' }& w$ J9 C3 X+ {- v% aadrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
; {" p" @% f5 K; `2 Mpuberty in boys.3,4+ n3 D6 `$ a# }1 [7 C. M+ Z6 V3 v! T
The most common form of congenital adrenal
6 Q. \7 `( }" O& Y. j- T/ \2 x; Nhyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency./ I7 G l( J. O" G. [, \" e; B
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
/ ~8 N+ V9 E& s3 U/ Y7 [: @& Yexcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,$ B1 c, V3 T" ]5 j0 @# U S3 Y7 C
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen/ V$ a7 N c" E: r( g
excess.1,34 `, V( \9 T5 g4 l# u! n
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
; C+ S+ m6 N, F( p+ m5 c542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007! r, O. D+ n& Q+ V& n& i- f
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-
5 w# n& M! B' w) E* l2 xindependent precocious puberty, which is also known; W' r8 p! T! m0 K
as testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a
: i- N0 R. w! z4 _/ \4 qvery young age. The physical findings in these boys | n! ?) @4 s0 Z( ^
with this disorder are full pubertal development,3 ~/ V) k+ F `# L
including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys
( d2 o6 k7 @/ K9 Y$ ?) fwith CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder0 I7 S% i& Y; N i
are suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
4 f1 p+ N- w/ v5 h' W) Z1 u4 ypubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
' W) X1 ^( k/ X T' M1 Yreleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked2 ~5 q& G4 \1 e" b4 R6 ^' u
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only
: D$ P( z* C; C& E1 Y$ U1 D7 Umales; therefore, other male members of the family
' _$ O0 I$ p- x1 K$ Jmay have similar precocious puberty.31 H! H# H* q, h0 E# H
In our patient, physical examination was incon-2 {8 T- Z# R! k* X' w6 \! W$ E( K: W
sistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-) g7 a# L/ _, Z/ i
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
( |! b( n$ V! B' D0 T( A" Ywas in the differential diagnosis because his father
4 K5 X6 q+ V/ R1 W+ k9 D5 \started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally, j/ ~$ }1 a. u, W% J, p
testicular enlargement is not that evident in the- e7 ?$ k% h5 C; a3 s* c! T1 ?! ]
beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-8 |2 F. F1 V4 G/ K
ative initial history of androgen exposure, our
' `; O' m5 }$ ]/ h+ ~* xbiggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,- }! s b6 h9 o, C+ F
either 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase: Y6 j w. C- n+ U5 i# F% \& z
deficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
) H( [5 T" b% N4 b7 \1 ]) q% Iing the normal level of adrenal steroids.1 R5 m" z; `: ?/ l1 L
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
: q# C! T4 S3 \suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
5 \' `; b. H% ^# l7 p- U& d" t1 Athe physical examination revealed the complete disap-
" g& I% m! }' W3 Q+ X; Apearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and# v: I, ~8 q2 n$ k4 q1 j
decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-$ R+ ~& N7 s7 f1 _5 U4 V ?8 F8 _
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
# m2 L0 t) P9 \$ {8 Ousing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’
; R- L1 ^4 ^7 [Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or
9 ~7 M; n0 @: |, d+ Mcream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to
8 q& h2 j) D- p8 Punprotected females through direct skin exposure.
) Z: x# I# w& ZSerum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the
$ l. E# U3 ~" r9 ~" F5 Vbaseline value in those females who were exposed to1 [/ p* `; {& q9 H* i( d
even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male$ u0 }! W( Z$ g! q
partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-
9 ]# l3 S+ [" e/ ~tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
! |% \& J( k2 R9 K. u( \/ t8 OOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,
% m9 U( S8 W; D% I9 t% z, r b! xwhich was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
1 d D% X7 ~/ Ddermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-
& v0 j. k# }4 sterone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more
8 c- }1 C+ R7 Q7 a& b& S0 d4 ~2 Pactive in young children exposed to testosterone2 f0 ^" b6 ]/ `: ?8 R
exogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-
) X0 M- G, }/ A- W/ j/ x" Odrotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
2 p/ v' ~6 n1 ?virilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
0 W {7 o. `! i+ Hchildren results in an increase in growth velocity and
. M9 ]; u a8 V( ~advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.5 b' d: k" r q4 G5 e1 z' `
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during
, q6 l9 R& B/ @0 u- oearly childhood on pubertal development and final
0 a! F: e& _9 l& ~% b% m! tadult height are not fully known and always remain
; s7 {9 Y7 P' H/ y* ua concern. Children treated with short-term testos-
. @8 X5 w* B/ c9 p6 w! O, fterone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some
9 Z; R% r' W/ h$ n7 A+ Macceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after* m( v8 ]1 F+ v5 y" ~5 V
cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation
( e, g! j1 l& p6 J. s/ S5 p9 sdecelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
) ~; q. X5 c- E1 ]0 i* O" M, m1 {/ vThere are conflicting reports and controversy
7 k* E& i* ]2 P( l$ _' s/ U, }over the effect of early androgen exposure on adult: x0 [" n& q6 x8 u/ C5 m
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal
3 B! `! {4 I8 c7 radult penile length, apparently because of downreg-
8 d' J6 j, G; P2 O- {( S2 H2 Fulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,
: i6 l& Z4 L6 h. R' M1 O' ^. |Sutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between) c! B% n2 n: n$ d4 |
childhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult
2 I( x1 d2 C( V& v, lpenile length in clinical studies., J# y. p) D% {
Nonetheless, we do not believe our patient is
3 h% B8 s$ w- Z3 F: Cgoing to experience any of the untoward effects from2 U$ |- F+ E1 T8 n, m
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because
, |; f; | N7 X' V' Mthe exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.& Q6 i6 m+ b& B I( Q5 v- G
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of
. ~: Q7 ^- I r, V4 V2 adiagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at m. N4 d) p2 i% P( X- l
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult
% p% y4 u2 }3 O$ i; H1 Yheight will not be affected.8 d" F" m' y( A1 Y2 `# p4 f
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail- N b) `8 d9 ^. n
ability of androgen products in our society may) ^# x |( ]9 l4 O8 i0 H/ ~
indeed cause more virilization in male or female/ C( n1 _8 _$ |1 A
children than one would realize. Exposure to andro-
8 H5 Z; \! x( R' bgen products must be considered and specific ques-! v1 T( M9 w( ^& A' X/ z- B
tioning about the use of a testosterone product or! S, O% b- Q3 D& [# e6 f9 N8 Z
gel should be asked of the family members during8 u; t! w9 W1 h" f% N1 S2 ?* j% Z
the evaluation of any children who present with vir-
: q. B0 m* ~/ y- y( l+ Y6 Bilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-6 W- T: |) ]% e# G8 \% T
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by3 @, M6 m! H# g0 p
appropriate history. The inability to obtain such a& ~. E" J. y& ^
history, or failure to ask the specific questions, may
2 v8 T+ U# l" {' ~8 ?result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive5 z& a+ U" l7 B5 E" f* @, G
investigation. The primary care physician should be
; F; @: R y; X0 D' V) gaware of this fact, because most of these children
, A1 B& P) ~" {' a. |! Amay initially present in their practice. The Physicians’/ S, I( T( U: M3 {& \2 F
Desk Reference and package insert should also put a; g3 A1 _( f/ q7 Y0 \/ t i5 L0 I
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or, l4 @# x# d: O* L, y
female child who might come in contact with some-
" J1 _" o2 v& Z& s4 z0 r; ~one using any of these products./ y( B( q( w+ G' T+ s2 W) f" Q0 i
References) o4 Q1 B1 Q) x7 G3 v4 l* u
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
8 u# B# \: i- B' t* Yand puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric
% B2 D8 O! b) w" x& z0 P+ W$ O1 JEndocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;2 ]0 m# O7 g2 q
2002: 565-628.
+ C& _% J, P B+ x* `2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious- R5 s' H4 e6 \6 j- o. k
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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