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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old
2 |7 L- o I" O* a% c7 ?Boy Induced by Indirect Topical
! b. @ B/ R0 _+ A4 M8 eExposure to Testosterone, p1 z: J1 P5 g A
Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2( ?1 R! l& b3 t7 ]6 F( c; {2 V
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1! ~* u4 `7 I O. J3 W; A) J9 }
Clinical Pediatrics
0 N1 s4 c2 q" n4 o0 XVolume 46 Number 6
7 e3 q3 c- Q' E9 h& N6 Y* QJuly 2007 540-5439 @" }6 A: U. h) _/ d
© 2007 Sage Publications6 C! V" ~* x' j5 W
10.1177/0009922806296651
1 ~, d8 J% P# F7 H$ r- Thttp://clp.sagepub.com$ P* [; i0 X) Z8 [
hosted at2 p4 a0 E' |4 t# m! Q* S V
http://online.sagepub.com$ u T6 j! t7 J H7 t; [/ j: ~
Precocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral, V' q; J, I) P$ s
is a significant concern for physicians. Central t' d% @, M. E# W# w. t4 [
precocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated/ |# w2 m& r# T; h% Y% s: N8 w
through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has
) U0 J/ t1 U. x& [ t& u; qa higher incidence of organic central nervous system
% I: b$ d1 z$ U0 Mlesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested& q+ _4 l3 r9 \" u8 G* V o
by enlargement of the penis, development of pubic
5 o Q* a. X% ~: Q$ Phair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-
; [5 M, a! j7 w5 X0 lcles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We
! b2 Q+ W' R0 L4 q4 I" H! Z6 Nreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the) H' @6 Z/ G' x- h0 U3 a) D: _
enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-! t5 g, \6 ]# b
ment without testicular enlargement, which was due
# `4 E6 Q5 v) a# W) b2 Z7 bto the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
$ b3 C+ g8 w3 Uthe father. The family initially concealed this infor-: P3 [) Q+ f8 y3 V
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this1 o1 ]/ q( s) @; {1 u0 g
child. Given the widespread and easy availability of2 O$ o9 w( c" H: G5 P) I. U: m
testosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
* T/ p9 E4 [4 r/ q( hbly more common than the rare case report in the4 h0 u. B8 A8 O7 D+ ~) [
literature.4
, I7 H8 w2 m3 GPatient Report8 Y6 L. p B. ?& {3 _9 {' ]
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the* x3 B& Y5 \/ N2 O1 D
endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
5 l* J! z9 p2 j9 E# g uof early sexual development. His mother noticed+ M' S# d$ B% w7 o4 e, ]9 S
light colored pubic hair development when he was
\5 ^5 I) b, C0 P DFrom the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of. `, G9 F0 ]& V2 |6 s1 w: n* a2 w
South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.& @) N, o& |! d7 N
Address correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
h) k4 g# u" w& B$ ~' JProfessor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
j: O/ E4 [4 l# z" @7 NMedicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;3 C, V( m9 |: S8 O1 a& P# k% C
e-mail: [email protected].2 F! I; i: ~$ E3 ?
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
* `5 j% g0 p7 K6 a) e. a1 Sdarker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
' k* d& c$ w$ w( \ment of his penis and frequent erections. The child
& M. y6 ~: V6 \4 D6 w4 d3 a, A9 T8 z, nwas the product of a full-term normal delivery, with* t/ b9 R+ [% s) W* V
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of% N: Z9 M1 [& ~1 U
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year
. V% p7 h+ k2 r7 c3 l# E- N! bof life and was still receiving breast milk along with
/ q/ G( F$ ~* T# D1 e" Q- C6 }solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,
+ `1 n7 m& ]! a0 S$ M& ^9 yand his psychosocial and psychomotor development9 T2 @. D' T) G
was age appropriate.
7 ?+ N. u) A& T# I; H# k" `The family history was remarkable for the father,
% n8 j/ N; o1 ?who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,
A3 }, B: l5 Xwhich was treated with thyroxine. The father’s
1 U' V5 |9 V' A9 X+ q# W: n3 M: Iheight was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat m, b5 [" q3 ?& F6 X& [9 l6 k
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.; e8 c2 S5 M9 F5 g5 ?
The father denied taking any other medication. The
' T+ m' q/ d- F" T6 A/ y4 d; h6 achild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche! L+ C: ]: s' |0 C- I5 q
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet6 g4 r% N' f; C* F H/ H
5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-
! B3 L% E2 R; _' H2 O, m; Acocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
+ r, U0 |3 l! ltives. There were no siblings.
# t: S' E0 N( h7 e, F' r$ `9 ?Physical Examination7 P$ W$ h: V7 v7 R3 N
The physical examination revealed a very active,
! N2 A% n2 w- iplayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
4 W) x s4 L8 @& z4 k( x: ?3 k5 f* ?a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was$ R% }9 V; T8 B( Q w6 y
90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg6 W( b$ l+ i0 Q! x+ {8 @) e
(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth/ c. M: o8 ~, ^( z, Z9 t
velocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of
) f& i6 p& B& L8 |the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.
% v8 |0 I& H8 U( Y3 k: ?2 QThe genitourinary examination was remarkable for( I5 M; v* o" u/ o, O5 p: c; P
enlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of/ D1 Y* ^, b. B/ G7 D
8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
1 k- `- a. b5 D0 v, Sdeveloped. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around
: x# s! |$ V1 Z, _# t7 s* J540
3 ?" U) l% w% g" R7 X* h) xat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from0 I6 S7 h; n; J' o; |
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The
6 ^! j3 m- a- c" C- [3 p/ Ktesticular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.
4 W3 X2 p& D6 ^/ V6 i' DThe skin was moist and smooth and somewhat: D/ O9 p, k) `
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no3 L4 ?9 w2 `0 m0 ?5 f7 I2 t
abnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.
5 Y1 R4 o/ ~9 b, Y. |6 g% [. {Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
/ V2 H4 P5 \! u- y- Obilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion
6 c. B: y+ R, K, ^' S. zof papilledema.7 d. a8 F( H2 z6 u
Laboratory Evaluation
D/ G0 m- E5 O- K/ E! o: l; R) wThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by
, G0 q: X8 `0 y$ A) Dusing the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-
& i1 t: v: Q6 n0 N+ Nlogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal, I1 I `" [: y- x
karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test$ h: h- e( I0 V; W& a
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-. ]' }- q5 X# D( Q( m. I1 W; z
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).* a- C6 X. J! t! @8 R" S
The concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood
7 w s+ ?% d9 y# J1 |6 q' _) Uurea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were0 h. M+ J# j: x4 H4 Q
within normal range for his age. The concentration
7 E( @ y/ r; f/ K: S; Q5 G$ g, gof serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
- j* ] B4 S7 {4 |(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20, Q1 M( \9 v: x% R, H2 w) X& Q3 B
ng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
5 y1 k: L0 d3 N* \- n) yterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),' x8 @2 F$ \2 y5 m! ?9 J1 @. ~6 ^
desoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to% E8 U) o& e- P9 J
49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)' k! i; a/ _4 i4 _, ?/ R; C ]" I
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
6 ~4 a6 e5 C* N; d$ M! y. gtisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total
* p! K% H8 b, l, @' |. ]testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),
& K. l2 O2 p, g5 p+ A; j" Fand β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
6 h9 N& n) \2 I; n9 S6 k0 K9 l5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular& X: X7 y+ Z7 t. ^7 T7 K
stimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone9 J# u. k$ L4 S/ ^
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
) w+ ]" A' X7 T- V8 {" B. B9 O(prepubertal).8 e# q2 h5 ^+ } q
The parents were notified about the laboratory
9 q/ c+ t, ?% f* C2 wresults and were informed that all of the tests were
5 O3 k; W2 f* k0 ~ l0 c2 Dnormal except the testosterone level was high. The& j) ?3 z% P3 j# }9 m+ o1 V
follow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to
5 _7 J! ^! s- ^% O5 h+ j) d% B* kobtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-8 }7 Y) ~) @, h( \) `
ever, the family did not return for 4 months.
8 H- T8 T9 {& }+ HPhysical examination at this time revealed that the3 H( E( R# G* x
child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained6 u0 Q/ z8 R9 E3 O. M2 X& b4 g1 \
2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
5 X" s# z" p, N4 C- {% Nunchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-
0 S4 L4 Q6 U% ^" f& X7 bpletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at. x3 m1 U1 a. M
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2" _+ Q" e( F1 ~- f
mL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.
8 a3 n* ^' S4 m$ ]* K' b G9 `The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-2 x6 N; J1 N9 d5 E) w
ing frequent erections.
# \' w! V# B6 c# @) P3 c" i% xBoth parents were again questioned about use of
* O" {1 P& t; vany ointment/creams that they may have applied to. ~1 [+ t- C* `
the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the' L* e9 V( s6 r4 B
Topical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541( d/ J1 c: t8 s! O6 h/ T
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-
) z3 ~ S, J! d6 Bing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for( y4 K. n1 |0 K+ C6 L
a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed! U' n* i4 N9 f. d- e% q
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-' x2 l& l& o k4 ~1 L
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido5 ^' M; e, e# ^1 k1 E6 s2 g
secondary to depression.
! e0 U9 ^" q# o: q* p* _$ k3 GThe child slept in the same bed with parents.+ G2 a( \* E d" i. @8 i
The father would hug the baby and hold him on his
9 Z1 G* V) @$ p1 B' Hchest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-: L* w' W* B3 Z, J \
nificant bare skin contact between baby and father." I( U) \4 q6 @
The father also admitted that after the phone call,
/ G6 a" B$ C" W' i3 p; lwhen he learned the testosterone level in the baby
& h+ F4 c& e P0 {was high, he then read the product information# P) x* S: e: ]
packet and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
+ h! g+ B/ A% v9 T- C% n6 ]% cson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they' G* P( e! T7 y
decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
/ B! s, A* t+ r0 \! _) L; Rfather was not hugging him with bare skin and had- t) U+ s G+ R j2 y. i9 z
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone+ @, T. Q% J1 f; Y5 H& U
test was ordered, but the family did not go to the
/ D' H$ F& C3 b4 f e. Y& J" p( ?laboratory to obtain the test.# q6 X0 K$ F' q6 T: _% _8 R
Discussion
' I, l! S( ~$ Q+ a; D: t9 V4 x8 BPrecocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary% B* r. x5 t- l/ w" S/ n
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4- i4 O* l+ H/ x) I4 P
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when; g, K3 L# S9 V# R0 b- o
it is caused by the premature activation of hypo-- n d6 B4 e' {; x" h
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com- u& o) b% t/ `5 ?% J
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP
: U* a( P( R/ q7 N1 p6 K0 _3 A. cmay have a central nervous system lesion that is0 g; u/ j3 l* g9 Z4 ~
responsible for the early activation of the hypothal-* c) }6 ]; f( Q* C( Z0 @# ^$ @% W
amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-
/ \* Z4 s; p; x9 q& psis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in( c& {! R) |- j. u" h% o) i
boys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
5 n- o* C- k4 o% \+ x4 hization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
* f1 D1 i& N, zrical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
% F+ r6 W% G3 s# V3 |) qgonadotropins.1,3
* p) N/ K( [1 v: oGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-
% T& \0 F0 A* ^. K4 {& |cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate" ?- |9 c; v1 B( z/ W0 m2 P
androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or q0 F2 D e) X3 C$ \7 M# F
exogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-
( F( X0 k1 @* j, T7 m9 hulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing% q0 k' ?# ?6 |. l: M) x! |, z& j
congenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
! V" w5 T9 L$ g. {0 Hadrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious- E! c; ?6 j2 ], h6 E0 C
puberty in boys.3,4
# ]# G5 ^1 J" U2 c9 yThe most common form of congenital adrenal
( j% _. `, O* N" v8 R3 P- _hyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency., T1 i \0 f1 _3 M1 Z8 O, y( }
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
8 J4 O, \- V+ `) \: Yexcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,; d4 }/ |5 N! s9 k: B2 T/ U+ D
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
N! Y0 E2 E" x9 }, {2 O( M) l2 }; aexcess.1,3, u- A+ }3 ]3 i. I8 s
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
( j, x8 R7 d6 ]) N p542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007
/ n* h1 ]! M0 r/ m# B `( tA unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-' O A1 l' J+ L0 P. s. |; ~& l) t- f
independent precocious puberty, which is also known
) r. w( c$ p: d( f# g' D0 eas testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a
% l4 A! S, a2 V- T( m% ^5 m* {' avery young age. The physical findings in these boys
# i8 V6 O: O6 B* C2 Lwith this disorder are full pubertal development,
5 W5 U0 P5 R7 y: z2 D% J8 Fincluding bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys
, T9 B; w% E3 { H/ q- Qwith CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder% {- Z8 N$ J3 U) l
are suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
4 D( O; z4 n/ A, w6 J4 d1 D$ kpubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-- C7 J5 }$ k) v1 H3 T. P( m: S
releasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked% J+ B# m: A0 a: S
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only
" j E+ u( a7 j/ V' D5 M; L) e9 cmales; therefore, other male members of the family
1 \$ v5 I) w* X8 ymay have similar precocious puberty.3
! E7 \' u# B- V$ y; _In our patient, physical examination was incon-1 |. R5 B3 }3 [0 M; I1 z7 b( m. n
sistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-
0 y2 @$ O; S0 a$ r% ?! x) Qcles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
1 V: I1 H% h; r) |8 W( [; c' bwas in the differential diagnosis because his father
7 X& z! Y/ I' Dstarted puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
* o& z4 w6 a, e8 C; Y" d9 y7 D1 M/ B. _* vtesticular enlargement is not that evident in the
5 C, t! Y H4 t" R' m9 ]( }6 _7 I) Wbeginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-
7 {# w3 q& f4 P; |8 Iative initial history of androgen exposure, our
0 U2 v4 p( ]0 x5 M+ hbiggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
, }# Z. k9 R. e" p9 }( e7 H$ `either 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
, g( C6 W0 ^4 H; c) o& }) W; Odeficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
3 p2 ~7 e% a# w% G3 U" C3 {ing the normal level of adrenal steroids.( s, j" I+ \9 b" g& ?" |
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly' k7 k! k W) O6 R0 _1 p
suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
( [& k. r' s' E/ a' t1 T7 mthe physical examination revealed the complete disap-6 b6 b" o/ n' k" P
pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and
b' `, F8 F! v& l7 M3 {decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-& U4 I2 o# T) I4 I2 H- p
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was- n- V5 @: I5 I1 ~' v
using it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’* L2 u: @2 s2 ]' ~% B: H+ [& g! f
Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or
# |" _% R0 `: u4 Jcream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to* C+ k/ `# _) t2 q$ e" P+ X
unprotected females through direct skin exposure. |: S" y" M7 C5 G3 J
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the% J7 k3 a8 r) O+ T* ?
baseline value in those females who were exposed to
+ n" P/ k6 U- ~) feven 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male
6 r) }& Z1 K% c7 i* [partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-& x% ^8 i. O1 O/ f4 V6 `
tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
" S) l' s( h+ W" O6 M; |' m% gOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,
G, S) _+ F& a7 Z0 P1 cwhich was clearly high. Some studies suggest that1 \% M) T7 X: Q9 |$ G" X+ R" [3 e- h
dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-
- x, N j, P! e7 \1 c Hterone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more F9 j! E2 z1 U9 B- R x2 i
active in young children exposed to testosterone
9 y P/ p, i5 |8 E* lexogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-
9 I3 @; T4 P0 D: ^7 {; O6 _# kdrotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
% G0 M' P( u z: R% dvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
7 G; Q; _' E0 `. pchildren results in an increase in growth velocity and; x5 N: g3 ~: Z) L8 f- J L& f
advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.
# d1 V+ u1 w4 _1 A7 jThe long-term effect of androgen exposure during
( `5 \# P1 d) {! E* K4 ~early childhood on pubertal development and final
$ t! i' v; u7 cadult height are not fully known and always remain
- E& B- b% `& @3 ?a concern. Children treated with short-term testos-8 V' ?& c- Q/ r0 e5 [8 l! W- @( m- n
terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some
" V# W. O' `( T7 p. K, |9 O: ^acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after: i& l- z8 z6 r. t
cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation
9 o l9 Q3 e% y5 C2 X4 `decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
* X; z9 r w( e1 k) Q$ rThere are conflicting reports and controversy
+ y, ^7 I Z/ l1 f9 R* \: A/ Mover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult9 I E- T e7 z0 w
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal$ u6 ?, p( _* G$ }- ^- v
adult penile length, apparently because of downreg-
7 m' o9 _0 ]9 qulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,
8 X# K- v/ z+ N9 V( R+ ZSutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between' H% }7 c1 K, q+ h4 r8 {- p
childhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult/ j2 [0 Q0 o5 ?" T9 J: n, ^: V+ u
penile length in clinical studies.
0 T& E* D9 }; N0 hNonetheless, we do not believe our patient is
" [3 W9 K; N F6 b7 Qgoing to experience any of the untoward effects from
. T+ Z) _8 L9 G, gtestosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because
1 f1 e% m5 a* j# }1 T& Qthe exposure was not for a prolonged period of time./ B# R- O9 A# o7 Z# y+ v
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of
5 c- q5 u( g4 k9 O. zdiagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at
% q4 l$ j( D& s4 |; B" ~the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult
& V" C. D X) ^4 i- W0 r1 gheight will not be affected.
3 a: |; z4 r0 K+ S' ]$ fAlthough rarely reported, the widespread avail-
' g: i# d9 e# H- H* a# t+ o8 Rability of androgen products in our society may
& B0 B* s8 w% X7 K8 Aindeed cause more virilization in male or female
. A: c7 ] N5 O2 F, \) echildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-
* w' Q) s/ V$ R3 ygen products must be considered and specific ques-
* k! b; F2 n8 f& P6 j c/ U8 wtioning about the use of a testosterone product or0 e8 k' y7 m6 K# f4 |- {
gel should be asked of the family members during
' K) d2 a& ~# a" x2 Bthe evaluation of any children who present with vir-
( _/ e9 e9 `) R( C0 Uilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-
9 _4 k" e/ e& e6 W! U. e [nosis can be established by just a few tests and by5 G6 F- {* _ y/ R! E. W" ~
appropriate history. The inability to obtain such a) f2 D) Y& M' u6 m- e' w6 j6 ~# w
history, or failure to ask the specific questions, may
' D, L: n2 U8 h5 Uresult in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive; m0 Z% ?' R+ B! }! R! ~, [
investigation. The primary care physician should be0 [& h# l: n4 e S0 ]4 }
aware of this fact, because most of these children% f& `/ p. k$ U
may initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
+ q7 t( _5 ?/ Z- YDesk Reference and package insert should also put a$ _" m" U" l: l* p: H+ B
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or; T3 ~3 M) ~, ^: W P/ C: L
female child who might come in contact with some-
( ~) Z' \; V/ l- D7 d, w. U r# oone using any of these products.
1 S" u" }0 @9 e, YReferences
2 @; s$ h0 X$ @0 l( H, T1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
/ l$ {: I! b1 Z7 R5 H- ]9 `/ S+ Land puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric# ]! V/ u0 h% i
Endocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;" Z- e3 z" D/ R" R) U2 X
2002: 565-628.
: A$ r/ e8 a* B! V- m2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious
( K& ]/ ^2 w/ m- s3 jpuberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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