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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old 
' }$ V2 H/ b, y# r% _- w6 DBoy Induced by Indirect Topical: s: t" l/ r; @% W 
Exposure to Testosterone2 n8 p/ ~" m. Y2 m 
Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2 
9 d2 m6 p4 w; C' ~: o4 g! Dand Kenneth R. Rettig, MD10 L" S; |8 ~3 t/ A6 k5 U 
Clinical Pediatrics! Q' _, `. C- D2 V. g3 u& s 
Volume 46 Number 6 
4 y; {* B0 ^$ M. d* w6 k' _, RJuly 2007 540-543 
, w8 c2 z3 v7 N+ {; [© 2007 Sage Publications' X  Q+ a6 @, i% a8 @6 W 
10.1177/0009922806296651 
" r; u& ?/ S$ q- W0 }http://clp.sagepub.com7 i6 H8 C) E. i& T* K6 w' O 
hosted at 
( g/ U/ B3 w1 V4 O# P$ Z0 fhttp://online.sagepub.com/ l' X1 Q; `/ T' p  r$ U- i. u 
Precocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,9 e6 ?; [: S' |) ` 
is a significant concern for physicians. Central 
" M3 M7 h  _  v$ w$ qprecocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated 
! G, {9 V7 p+ H/ K4 Gthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has* k- |7 g% v: ^4 s  g% O" d 
a higher incidence of organic central nervous system( v2 H. C0 O/ \: x. ?9 D 
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested5 x; H+ {% G* \" X* f- ^ 
by enlargement of the penis, development of pubic 
! o; R( w: d* C# rhair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi- 
8 v, V7 _# f4 g: L  c( @6 ~cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We 
2 ~. V" m1 G) d; w) Nreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the 
& R+ m  ~! y$ Y8 f" D/ _8 v/ Genlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop- 
0 P' j. P! z1 V' t3 g* lment without testicular enlargement, which was due( S% [% B! p0 s1 @ 
to the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by 
( {9 ~2 g1 F8 z8 g7 A% ~" s7 m7 @- dthe father. The family initially concealed this infor- 
  D3 ~. h" L0 |; d# ?mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this 
2 L* g& B+ d8 T' k5 Nchild. Given the widespread and easy availability of 
& b, |+ ?8 c) W9 ~; T6 S  d- N6 p5 W% Htestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba- 
  G' C3 E. E( r+ T/ @) m  N6 Rbly more common than the rare case report in the 
6 h7 w, T; ]# \6 Hliterature.4 
7 {8 N( I0 H; A; K- v8 D5 `7 HPatient Report7 q/ i% v* [6 n2 }2 s 
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the( e" Y# Q8 J1 r- }3 y( ` 
endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern, v& A* W4 c/ M3 |7 z3 D 
of early sexual development. His mother noticed# B1 Z3 L# Y) U0 ?1 _ 
light colored pubic hair development when he was' N  L8 t0 O& d9 z8 N3 x% a 
From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of; P* a. U1 g* P- b& ?1 A. `# p* J- L  Z 
South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama. 
) ?1 W/ K' k: P8 sAddress correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE, 
6 _7 Q% _- C8 }: }" GProfessor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of) L6 P/ l) m5 H1 E5 n 
Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;# [7 p) E0 K  b- G; |- Z$ s 
e-mail: [email protected]. 
& U1 Y: C+ f' O% a& \( O, jabout 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became 
) }" [  `% L, t# s. f8 h. a9 }$ Ldarker. She was also concerned about the enlarge- 
# `% a% U0 }/ ~& x% w  k/ _ment of his penis and frequent erections. The child 
0 {( _/ l9 A; w6 ]: V! e. y" Qwas the product of a full-term normal delivery, with 
) P% B5 f, F! m5 \+ Ia birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of3 w, q6 T' i4 w 
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year* l5 w& C7 l! v& z4 s 
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with 
7 H0 u" G  G3 R- k7 |" ~" u6 Wsolid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery, 
5 u! w) V3 e" i! i0 t  Kand his psychosocial and psychomotor development 
5 m$ a9 h+ B% f! l' vwas age appropriate.9 m, S3 L3 a7 a; Y5 w- h" n1 O* S: G 
The family history was remarkable for the father, 
& ^% a: `+ P# H0 k% Vwho was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16, 
0 ^1 l' v+ k% B( c2 X. zwhich was treated with thyroxine. The father’s 
" x$ q7 n# W" i; Q( |: X* G% @7 hheight was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat 
9 p- a( V' r% U- E8 E) P5 }  O# e( ]5 Qearly puberty and had stopped growing by age 14./ u/ O8 A. X# B, K 
The father denied taking any other medication. The 
1 `% h' R1 z0 l* |1 c6 fchild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche 
  f( B  b' Z% b7 ~' B. {  e( H5 O: F, hwas at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet 
: F8 t7 J* M6 D7 [* {5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-  F. y, @" h. B3 I* `) ?% y* h6 e 
cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela- 
. k# E, P+ m) H/ mtives. There were no siblings.2 [2 n# e5 K6 G* |, u 
Physical Examination; a, }# c" g1 g1 _: p' t3 n 
The physical examination revealed a very active, 
4 u2 g# U. X- x; @/ Q% Q7 h; splayful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented- l( E! d: d# |) Y 
a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was' {: Z  h) L' l4 Z 
90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg 
3 u% P( ?( f% F! R# v1 E(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth 
# Y0 J8 x& B0 b) i/ z9 r) v9 ivelocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of 
8 O: n7 b& H" V, s1 Rthe neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.8 i# W( b2 i+ s3 [+ G 
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for3 g" M- z6 [& J$ ^3 F) ~ 
enlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of 
4 f' n! x6 e0 `8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well3 L7 D8 g1 X& v 
developed. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around 
8 d6 ~: z: w2 [/ Y/ L540 
2 b1 M: }: Y& K! \$ k+ C  A4 Rat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from1 B( {  g9 Y* Z$ V 
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The 
+ A5 f2 F( }& D6 Ptesticular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.( w. C# j; {4 ^+ M! h 
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat 
9 w: s( w$ N& s  o6 T) toily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no0 u/ S. q1 T9 o* x3 k, q 
abnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots. 
5 O/ f& c  {% `% E! Q6 [Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+ 
# x1 j$ I# L/ z- f. d% k9 K0 ubilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion 
1 S% l& ]. `; s  o. d* V+ J) c8 Bof papilledema.' q5 p3 ^, w3 X* G4 o3 L% q7 | 
Laboratory Evaluation& B; y; }3 b& }; a" U* _: m6 | 
The bone age was consistent with 28 months by 
+ K+ u  X" s7 J: a8 Qusing the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono- 
1 s1 `9 T# W1 c) R+ U$ slogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal' L1 C3 J5 S) _3 J& b 
karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test  p/ V4 W* i3 W' s  j 
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu- 
. c, U" \9 K! x! T; O- ^: T" Ilating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal). 
4 m4 }  V$ `4 zThe concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood 
' N  U# a$ z1 v  v! gurea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were& A) E( a/ q6 o# m  c 
within normal range for his age. The concentration! Y, l* F. }4 k; [! o4 m 
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL 
; p# C- K* Z3 I* R# n1 z) M(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20( d1 u/ J2 r% y 
ng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-5 H, X, Y9 I- e3 G4 q 
terone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL), 
/ T8 V. _( t/ P' [) Odesoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to 
4 c& Y! i6 G. O" \: r49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)& C9 x$ Z! O4 D: } 
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-* ^: C5 B& j9 W! b% w& S- J 
tisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total  p* r! p/ u) F5 ?1 L 
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),  N3 s2 l% O" J& G1 @/ h 
and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than' c! N8 X5 Q) m6 A& [, R8 w 
5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular 
+ q1 L9 M- O! H. x+ J3 vstimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone2 B& Z$ S8 X) t9 @% Z 
concentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL5 H+ Z3 w0 M8 V. B5 J3 Y3 O3 @ 
(prepubertal).3 {" y0 ]0 L$ w5 u5 C8 J 
The parents were notified about the laboratory 
! f9 {2 s  ~+ V) k' P' a" A' nresults and were informed that all of the tests were" I. A' B3 q& }0 Z% }" b/ o 
normal except the testosterone level was high. The 
) K/ _. U7 t. M+ t9 O$ a; V" _  {' ]0 gfollow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to+ L: b4 K3 _+ N1 F) s 
obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how- 
# h4 l9 Q6 j. Mever, the family did not return for 4 months.% ~% I! }) m/ V; B% Z8 F# E2 ]( H 
Physical examination at this time revealed that the 
8 }$ f- a- T; ]child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained1 ~1 A2 @1 P/ w 
2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained( C% z' _% q2 w8 [# J4 j/ L 
unchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com- 
" I0 f2 Y/ o1 a8 o4 F& P( n" Dpletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at% ?& r* {! F: D8 N1 x1 ^ 
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2 
+ H+ C7 F' ^: l) m/ Y" M$ B) u( VmL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.* U1 n9 g- g5 H& A+ H( S" l/ s" A 
The mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-% P3 e9 x# l- |; X, k 
ing frequent erections.8 U/ J9 Q5 m0 k. {; o 
Both parents were again questioned about use of 
9 l- {9 u, Q5 p9 p3 e; d& ~any ointment/creams that they may have applied to0 Q9 w. N3 f4 u, v/ T$ B 
the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the 
% A( j* v9 \* j6 CTopical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541; o' I6 U; O: h7 p( {% g7 x5 L9 W 
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-- \7 X6 y( Q, H3 H/ w4 c 
ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for 
' F& |! V& U) w, `1 }9 ^0 ?a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed 
% \$ i. q/ B& \9 `- Vto disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-5 t. J; n: Q: \) ? 
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido 
9 ^6 z" s, k- L+ J# L3 `secondary to depression. 
% \3 ~5 C. `4 {" W8 BThe child slept in the same bed with parents. 
9 e, i, }/ _0 DThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his/ m6 W9 \+ H6 ?# Z  {9 E 
chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-7 a8 {) `# n# ^' w. f# `1 P0 R2 r 
nificant bare skin contact between baby and father.) }- s/ j( T$ R 
The father also admitted that after the phone call, 
' X8 S5 x- k7 J# J) V1 Z: Nwhen he learned the testosterone level in the baby0 s4 t/ V+ p$ G/ l; X& U 
was high, he then read the product information 
7 K" e" L* E# R7 bpacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-1 |- ?7 L& D1 k5 l3 j5 k 
son for the child’s virilization. At that time, they 
7 f) l* y8 g) x1 b7 rdecided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the, O2 V4 I9 a4 F+ e0 F 
father was not hugging him with bare skin and had+ k, c/ F) k8 X 
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone 
: i7 |1 V% q# ~6 S* }test was ordered, but the family did not go to the; g2 Z/ q5 l. k2 f2 R+ C0 V 
laboratory to obtain the test./ X2 A+ ^- F1 K. K 
Discussion2 g+ B# A9 K! r3 z 
Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary/ U& X* s, O2 D6 c% g* Q4 ~) @ 
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4 
4 s2 r# t6 o+ z& e6 N4 ?Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when 
1 I: i2 ]8 L1 lit is caused by the premature activation of hypo- 
: n9 l5 h: m7 |7 Z: r( ^; q3 zthalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com- 
8 y  s" G: U$ ?/ Fmon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP* I5 W# o  q' s& {3 l, s 
may have a central nervous system lesion that is 
7 L% y% ]3 R2 t& R1 Tresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal- 
' ?8 n- k7 A8 A5 \amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-" s, B3 A" ~! O 
sis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in 
; \" j# J8 ^# a% }1 aboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-, k! I- x6 D, P, } 
ization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-+ w4 k. ?; G* t: Q" J* Q! V5 L/ [) Y* D 
rical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by' s: w, |( b1 ]3 D: k, D 
gonadotropins.1,3  q' E% g/ ~8 w2 M  ~+ Z1 K% \ 
Gonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-$ }2 R' U: j; }3 w) g 
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate: F( r: x, u" H" A  P% ] 
androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or, W+ Y; D1 T2 q6 z 
exogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-; \. ^0 F+ u7 O# L 
ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing 
+ k3 O  W, G! z5 E: Ucongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive 
  A5 X7 o, ?5 Iadrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious8 A* k0 L# L- _2 d 
puberty in boys.3,41 y- J" Q% `9 f, D 
The most common form of congenital adrenal 
7 l) `# ^! A" e5 k$ e1 c' g# s; chyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.& T4 S* }6 a  a 
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in& P& x3 p* v( ^+ ?% L 
excessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely, 
* q7 u2 |! W7 K$ I+ ^- Ban adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen 
8 {* q6 C5 y* j7 aexcess.1,3 
/ T1 g4 d! F9 Y: j) {* T  |at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from 
; m: c, S8 Q  [" A542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007* y' }2 @" Y- @% m$ M 
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin- 
" D6 p$ O! D+ Y: m7 K7 m1 pindependent precocious puberty, which is also known 
% y& n9 O1 [8 h6 U/ f$ Jas testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a 
6 j- q- n' f9 u) B) `$ E) F; r7 Hvery young age. The physical findings in these boys 
! b' K' _* M) K6 P8 I7 C4 \% f) P/ ^with this disorder are full pubertal development,! G2 ]* }6 }. u  [ 
including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys- A9 X! s! s( {: O! g 
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder3 `. r; p9 ^$ X; \3 j 
are suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show* A2 c- u2 a; E/ l6 Q$ u' P 
pubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin- 
) K9 {/ P( f6 h0 breleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked5 l, |" e& Q) O- ` 
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only6 s8 \* V8 O" U! O 
males; therefore, other male members of the family+ p5 u. }0 ~; i+ o3 Q' M: Y% b 
may have similar precocious puberty.30 Z6 T& g( J) D, v: r 
In our patient, physical examination was incon- 
+ T: N- s( Y* Y# D5 S. c1 Msistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-6 g2 B1 X  Y; \ 
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis) q: k9 {5 o9 x) n 
was in the differential diagnosis because his father 
0 \/ [7 F3 h2 C% X0 Dstarted puberty somewhat early, and occasionally, 
$ s2 I$ ?) m$ o, K: U! Ctesticular enlargement is not that evident in the 
9 D* I' K. W+ j- f' h6 xbeginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg- 
& y. n" Q, T4 F" W$ P* Sative initial history of androgen exposure, our7 l" [8 r/ j8 v8 D5 g' l  K% i$ { 
biggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia, 
" {8 P) S$ A; Q  z/ M  l& Ueither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase  l9 z9 P+ Z- v1 J% |5 q 
deficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find- 
. g% O) L9 _7 [8 x( _4 V" Wing the normal level of adrenal steroids.1 B* r6 u5 ^, Z/ k 
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly- G3 }5 M, A2 C5 `& x" u: [ 
suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because1 j! c7 v4 e$ {. X* c( Y" R 
the physical examination revealed the complete disap- 
5 x3 q% ?, X0 |* p, L% Kpearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and4 L" e8 }' b3 ?0 G 
decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos- 
: R6 Y+ w& V' ]8 W  F& _. ]terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was 
- s& M3 A$ F- Z0 P, Lusing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’ 
/ l3 T7 n  y$ w" m& gDesk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or4 P6 R3 M: W, \ 
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to 
) u4 e9 @& b3 T% j% v! l+ Ounprotected females through direct skin exposure.8 M# _2 p" o5 V 
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the; B# _* Y4 r0 m. p5 B4 w+ l7 `4 p 
baseline value in those females who were exposed to! @" [! W( L! E& |# G  j 
even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male 
7 C% M1 c  t# Z$ J4 Z4 fpartners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-- S5 W, o1 U* Y5 O$ H0 z% |- J 
tion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.: V' g$ W7 m5 d% _" z  [  U 
Our patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL," }5 B! l1 G/ G; i: g( ^, y 
which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that/ |  Y) K) [, _- o- N 
dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos- 
7 k8 U8 J% K  D9 I" jterone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more6 z0 V: V# @; h5 s: P1 J1 U 
active in young children exposed to testosterone 
* F" Q; g6 b5 n8 fexogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy- 
( x: v# ^, T) y4 @7 K: V7 _- b8 idrotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to 
  ]0 Z, ~- ~# U7 s# gvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in" V0 z- X: X! H5 v8 n 
children results in an increase in growth velocity and 
% N1 W6 ]/ v4 `8 r, J+ d$ o* Y1 Nadvanced bone age, as seen in our patient./ a: P8 q5 F) Z$ k0 ?5 j 
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during! X* C- x5 d, x0 S 
early childhood on pubertal development and final' |( M: q* z: Y5 H: [ 
adult height are not fully known and always remain 
! d8 i- i/ p7 @9 ?( }5 d, Aa concern. Children treated with short-term testos-  {4 }4 ^3 i4 [% f% i 
terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some 
5 i% X6 p3 N6 s  \5 S& a2 pacceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after 
/ f0 _2 P9 M6 x" e* |/ jcessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation2 _8 m, o0 q5 C, T2 g* ] 
decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9 
& W6 G  T: n% m8 V) jThere are conflicting reports and controversy2 O$ `  r( b' F: O1 A 
over the effect of early androgen exposure on adult 
/ \# R0 P3 ?7 v4 Kpenile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal( E) P% v% G; ^, t0 K& } 
adult penile length, apparently because of downreg- 
9 i+ _; a) x- d1 i* y) J. eulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However, 
2 S/ H9 ^0 q  t! _% y8 zSutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between 
% d, s, I. r- v, M* jchildhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult 
. G$ T1 H! K2 u; p$ Gpenile length in clinical studies. 
) O) @" y  a! P7 o+ h' O( E1 K. ONonetheless, we do not believe our patient is4 o) H6 Y6 D9 @* v6 x 
going to experience any of the untoward effects from3 h8 O" `6 F8 h" d0 v 
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because 
* C, i  P1 D1 ]the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.7 _3 [. p' A6 T' C% I0 p. G 
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of 
0 T/ t8 s; r( ~) f9 mdiagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at 
) \- W9 b  S, w3 H) L6 W3 Qthe follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult 
0 J4 ^) V6 ~" r7 u$ ~height will not be affected.7 q5 C5 |; D& U8 `  v5 o& F 
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail-  ^5 `. |) e) l7 c) K' p9 ^ 
ability of androgen products in our society may# X2 I# ?' \. @ 
indeed cause more virilization in male or female6 \( s2 ?) z8 y$ ]+ u& _& x 
children than one would realize. Exposure to andro- 
0 ], M. f% w, bgen products must be considered and specific ques- 
7 {3 W3 d9 _* h3 |8 Rtioning about the use of a testosterone product or 
' C( f; k4 ^- |& i) @- zgel should be asked of the family members during 
: r2 N% S$ U5 Z/ V6 D8 Wthe evaluation of any children who present with vir- 
! B! R7 M( o2 Y% T1 Hilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-9 m6 l( \3 T4 F# J: S0 K: A 
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by 
. s. r8 L( C: z2 z# vappropriate history. The inability to obtain such a# A2 S' r3 h+ T; O1 H# R7 J' } 
history, or failure to ask the specific questions, may 
. B" z, _0 N4 G" K; Q1 Mresult in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive 
( \/ M; ^* R/ M4 m  A. @+ b/ linvestigation. The primary care physician should be+ \$ x( ^8 n7 ~* i, P3 y+ f* ] 
aware of this fact, because most of these children5 [" I: v; e1 A; y: e 
may initially present in their practice. The Physicians’ 
. Y5 [: C+ j4 u/ |/ qDesk Reference and package insert should also put a 
. a: r7 @# z" w0 H4 K* uwarning about the virilizing effect on a male or 
! [  }+ X9 D) a, _9 O; ]7 h) ?1 _female child who might come in contact with some-0 |- x5 j  k& l/ M  U) P+ w 
one using any of these products. 
" ~( ]9 Q- i& r! w5 dReferences 
8 @4 o& J: U5 S1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation8 l* \! X, }4 K$ |1 D; ^+ M/ H4 s 
and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric 
+ s  B$ c7 u7 j" [8 u) V) Q4 LEndocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 
5 ]9 r+ `" M# L2 p3 J* m2002: 565-628. 
) n# ~2 L7 j0 M# B3 r9 Q2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious4 y# f$ l+ d+ r" O5 w 
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |   
 
 
 
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