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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old
* P5 w- J! L9 b6 S% `* w0 Q8 `Boy Induced by Indirect Topical
5 X: z+ o/ h1 y5 `& f" NExposure to Testosterone) U- L9 Y/ A' U7 e- W7 T8 R
Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,28 l( q6 k* B7 b/ K
and Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1" a! A$ }1 O" {4 o+ R0 N( |
Clinical Pediatrics
$ L( R7 k( z4 d- b4 h6 P9 SVolume 46 Number 6. Z5 g9 \8 Z; w& r) _
July 2007 540-543
" C0 `; X+ f- W1 H" y) \© 2007 Sage Publications1 M' i4 j2 C( X/ Q) f* e- ]
10.1177/0009922806296651; `( b4 \7 j7 k9 w! M
http://clp.sagepub.com- t" ^: V) u8 U3 n
hosted at
( n( T7 R+ q& N3 C( hhttp://online.sagepub.com
( [9 `3 `+ x; K$ X9 KPrecocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,
: I$ H2 ?2 c# \: v. ]is a significant concern for physicians. Central3 Y" {6 h( E6 m6 z5 W
precocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated" s" y6 }: y% s; Y) q# O. e7 w$ E
through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has2 t3 U( r$ v! H1 g% N, }$ c9 T2 e) N
a higher incidence of organic central nervous system+ y3 }. W$ g$ K; p3 a3 F
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
9 f0 T) R; z( X3 k* N4 Hby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic+ P: u J, v! x0 r- H2 _% u' F$ Y
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-
/ O" u9 \, H. ~0 w3 j- O* z( dcles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We
5 {! A) Z9 f, |7 I) ], [% X5 Z& Zreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the" N+ l: y+ g( u
enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
, q! W3 H* q4 a; S6 |( ement without testicular enlargement, which was due
( ]/ `, r1 F3 x. N1 X4 cto the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by* }: p; n9 H! n9 N T
the father. The family initially concealed this infor-
" P; N- O. b$ \) @. ?! H. D; R' Mmation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this& A) Q. r1 a. u8 j. F
child. Given the widespread and easy availability of
, _1 y( I' I4 ?6 T. x6 @testosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-1 P1 ~# _, b) Y' V& @6 p9 |- @
bly more common than the rare case report in the
. C3 [' P( I0 h+ Pliterature.4
: J+ Z4 i# m, V1 t) SPatient Report/ r6 G8 h: I O. z& @
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the
, }( I( ]2 m8 T1 H& k; R8 O" Tendocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
7 I# r" F. |# C- Cof early sexual development. His mother noticed0 W+ q4 }7 p0 e% ]8 p1 I
light colored pubic hair development when he was* S8 P. j3 j( X: h8 B7 }9 D/ t
From the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
7 V& @8 p# F6 f; RSouth Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.
i+ r M0 k* CAddress correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
# ?0 E* h& a; G. @- \: ]9 TProfessor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
; @* o1 W" Y- j5 F) ~Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;
) t1 m( L# @/ P k) G/ h; O& n: Pe-mail: [email protected].
( B, B6 X0 ?; U) S* K& f3 ~ sabout 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
1 `! ]! Q. |: \! c; _. zdarker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
0 n0 B, |. H- Q0 B& g* pment of his penis and frequent erections. The child+ @6 a! _+ f1 R' } H
was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with) r, r) `* W6 U8 l6 B* P' p
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of. ^8 Q' J* d2 u# R4 @/ A, }! C
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year
9 @( c# h+ U: z- eof life and was still receiving breast milk along with; n, z6 W& {0 y
solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,% e1 X- S8 o+ }4 j9 U( J0 H
and his psychosocial and psychomotor development
* P( T/ {5 s M! }& Q" ]2 Xwas age appropriate.- @+ a" a/ O# `" F; b! m
The family history was remarkable for the father,
6 W* K+ A% W( Swho was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,
1 j3 |. I* R7 }' ?0 d# d4 N5 h/ z3 ^which was treated with thyroxine. The father’s$ B( s' M1 e; M, [9 t8 r8 V5 M& [
height was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat
3 s T& a3 m$ `% `early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.
' A+ b' ~$ D1 }8 k# ?The father denied taking any other medication. The
1 r$ v6 H: O/ V' m9 {- ]) zchild’s mother was in good health. Her menarche' |9 e3 l5 i1 u2 P% p/ u
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet3 A3 l" m5 f7 j. \3 G% H+ F
5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-
9 Q, e' C. Z5 d7 M; bcocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
7 L, n3 a3 n7 ~* U9 stives. There were no siblings.5 [8 I8 B, s1 [$ K& I1 |7 _
Physical Examination
% }$ s$ k5 K# G0 @* GThe physical examination revealed a very active,/ l0 {0 `! N @, L. s* @9 K
playful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented/ W5 A5 D8 g. [) _% f8 c- e
a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was& `9 x3 B0 Z4 z R7 G ^8 W
90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg" n1 C' E# _" f. K3 R: b0 K* |
(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth
8 q9 m0 y7 L4 i$ S2 {% D, H$ wvelocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of
8 s2 y$ Q5 A5 Mthe neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.- l) K5 k3 \* H
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for
/ K; A# e9 c$ P/ i3 jenlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of4 X# ?/ G. N8 O" V9 ~2 D1 t8 P2 t
8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well$ i" E; x" j: Y% M$ i0 i* S/ |$ I; v& R
developed. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around
. y* {1 W8 P5 G540) g8 H* S" q6 w0 ^: I- N) c
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from; S( k# f8 Y9 d% d6 Q: n. n# p' z
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The1 l; K! I& S& G% D$ L: B) n2 o
testicular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.0 i3 S$ Q/ z2 j2 O; v" j
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat9 t7 M4 S$ v: Q; Y. D
oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
: d+ t; v3 `. s% D: k) d* g( C; gabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.3 h- d- C: H' o7 R0 R6 }3 _
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+3 ]: a" J7 R. L
bilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion
$ u# b: }' c# {: ^5 V0 tof papilledema.
( R/ r. p3 x1 _# \; T/ i qLaboratory Evaluation
4 H, o. I% W0 `2 l$ U. y; \! fThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by5 e6 o$ S* L0 B. X& R- Z) a4 l
using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-
* M" {" L* R8 T, d* ylogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal
7 Z2 U3 n* F) l0 D2 Y6 j: u- T1 Tkaryotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test; O% k4 I. D+ x# N6 [
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-# g( h1 C" a- R! {
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).. b6 n B& x5 `3 d( ?: I
The concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood0 z* V# k9 t* o% l3 d# n
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
7 l2 |& d4 {0 J* Bwithin normal range for his age. The concentration( m( n' f' y' y9 y0 Q$ D7 N. `
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL# U. t C+ {" n6 L( T
(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20
, v& U# e+ J% s& R) ]( c/ p; Ung/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
2 j g5 s) x/ u1 C+ e! P: @terone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),; n2 D5 j; h7 I
desoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to8 @* B8 L1 G; }( L: U' S
49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S); w8 S4 D' W# x. i
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-
- q) n% T) m" B) z$ x; ptisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total: [: y* a: V+ e& t* j# W
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),+ i- D* d5 A) t. _7 L# X& m
and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
# f! I, C- q$ o! R0 t/ ]5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
5 }" f" k: l, ostimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone
. g/ t1 X5 v3 Z6 H2 \) p* Nconcentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL6 D: N/ I2 I+ ^# t v; J- V) N
(prepubertal).3 o) W8 i9 Q, N! I2 g( f. M% A8 v* w1 n
The parents were notified about the laboratory
" ^9 [$ y% S6 n; x. E& Rresults and were informed that all of the tests were/ @4 e5 x8 Y" W: B/ k
normal except the testosterone level was high. The
# |8 a* R7 I+ N1 w( Z( lfollow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to5 P4 X5 |' E/ e- Z: [, S1 c$ } ^
obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-
6 w2 [( g6 v& P' Qever, the family did not return for 4 months.
& m1 z. X& I8 |: P/ _+ L9 G0 vPhysical examination at this time revealed that the7 t; ^& U! t$ I- J$ ?* R
child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
- s) y4 W& o# o& v2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
, X) \% K5 z% ?; |unchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-
- X( Q8 Q4 S6 z$ ^# rpletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at
% S! m1 x' ?5 D* h$ T& e( K: ~+ M* [the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 22 R/ U7 P/ m7 t8 E( q& t( A( O
mL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.
# b1 U' t' ] c) Q; wThe mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-6 }3 c/ d- i( B) H( a9 H
ing frequent erections.
: ]6 ^/ |% F& W2 S, m1 N% UBoth parents were again questioned about use of
% c Q5 x. k9 k" @ r* ? wany ointment/creams that they may have applied to9 v) I$ ~- o0 G; U) h0 t) y0 E
the child’s skin. This time the father admitted the; C, W; N( K. Z. D/ s( m" T
Topical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541
8 q% Y i/ c* } U: a; ]9 S' {5 Luse of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-
9 r( Q2 k% \3 M7 y2 k, N; z) ?ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for1 V- D) ?; s( D$ D( ?
a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed9 Z2 E; E# g; b2 C! m
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-9 l. e' ]+ x8 h! ]7 G; c2 P
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido; o) {3 ]3 e) s7 J7 B
secondary to depression.
' ?4 F5 ]8 n2 m7 K/ JThe child slept in the same bed with parents.
& ~, Z# J. \$ z! ]! ?7 k& Z gThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his
+ h1 e R' w' Y" \chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-
1 p( _$ O4 |; z; [. xnificant bare skin contact between baby and father.
4 G1 r* R( w! f4 Z# kThe father also admitted that after the phone call,% X( A7 J u/ X' Z5 a$ n
when he learned the testosterone level in the baby
3 C1 P" @# z6 U7 D3 p4 |0 x- x- O4 `was high, he then read the product information
3 t4 Z" i, V: Y4 _ k. K; wpacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
8 y$ h. a2 U/ k9 k7 Fson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they3 r% b: V* T% l: V% H
decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
" c) q& }0 h$ D! _0 |) hfather was not hugging him with bare skin and had
1 X9 Q: @, x9 [. ^: ?been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone% y4 V) {8 m+ |
test was ordered, but the family did not go to the
?% r5 [7 S6 u$ Olaboratory to obtain the test.
4 l+ G4 Y6 ^! {. i+ ZDiscussion
! x# X# v4 ?( _' g% O0 m4 lPrecocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary
* G- K- x2 I/ s p# I" Zsexual development before 9 years of age.1,40 x2 S7 k% R4 b! {4 l' [* @
Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
: a+ |& D) o% P. Z; sit is caused by the premature activation of hypo-/ ~, s/ \3 ^7 U5 b1 ?" K! \' U$ P
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-
4 V" x0 T) ]; @# }, y' g' Imon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP
E' {! ?* Y: O6 B* s* |may have a central nervous system lesion that is
g# b+ I) _4 Bresponsible for the early activation of the hypothal-
: O& Y" q7 T. C8 o8 O* |amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-
5 _' V/ |+ t- f" M. msis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in
! w5 A6 ^# q" w6 v$ ^2 iboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
7 a, H4 e0 t( ^% o- }% ]ization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
' `! m* j9 i5 s6 [rical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
7 }7 o* Z: I* g H; t8 [gonadotropins.1,3' ~4 E1 ~) e! C( u
Gonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-8 E6 o; O3 i8 z$ S' ~8 k
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate
8 O+ A3 E& i# \androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or
0 o0 f0 Z9 e, l! Wexogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-
+ x5 q5 h7 P; k0 d% t( [ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
/ I1 V% v$ V' y& A* ycongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
6 ]# H/ ~' K# @adrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious4 U. ?8 _/ P0 s2 d- h4 x# R2 X
puberty in boys.3,4
4 D, Y9 |$ Y* D* n$ ?& x @The most common form of congenital adrenal
# S( R- w& m4 X# U' y) phyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.( B; F( Q$ e6 @6 l0 C; f
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
. p, C8 E8 H! ]/ w3 ]1 d8 dexcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,
! x+ g3 m5 x8 [1 h+ ]7 Can adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
" b$ }8 `- r& `excess.1,3+ G; S7 {8 Z4 S# V" _3 H9 g2 K
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from" a r# h5 j( @% a* g2 _4 Y
542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007
2 l4 O8 u3 h* mA unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-
8 e$ G, i& j2 S4 t0 S6 gindependent precocious puberty, which is also known8 n( F8 z5 Z: P7 z0 A. P
as testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a
7 ]+ Y& A# `- u/ Qvery young age. The physical findings in these boys
+ _- N4 i8 y) {/ r6 m6 n& \6 u0 Zwith this disorder are full pubertal development,
7 r/ y2 u6 P) c, Z+ W+ ~1 xincluding bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys$ |8 A1 w$ E$ s/ ~& k S/ ^5 E& k% m
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder3 r) O3 |. u& Q! ?# n# P1 n4 J
are suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
) A7 e# M8 K2 p% h* H* U8 Vpubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
. y, F4 B! `: v+ Z+ Nreleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked; d- x9 l& J% [% d1 n! n
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only9 r/ m% `5 d' o4 s; Y8 ~$ ?- W
males; therefore, other male members of the family$ r$ j$ f6 ?% _; C
may have similar precocious puberty.3
5 p) h: B1 |7 R5 f8 ~In our patient, physical examination was incon-& e; n$ E9 U' [0 W5 u% t
sistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-: H0 s3 L0 k+ s% a
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
9 c) x7 i1 s0 q) M, o3 ^5 x3 Ewas in the differential diagnosis because his father7 h$ a7 H6 L1 U/ T! e- I9 H
started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,, Y" O, ^ n+ T, @! v
testicular enlargement is not that evident in the
7 N& s0 P% L8 L) g9 y$ y. vbeginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-, Z- o& B, w7 \& i: E
ative initial history of androgen exposure, our9 J$ H8 K5 A9 ]8 ~ ]6 X. c
biggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
, [$ Y$ ~. N$ k2 J3 a/ K+ N& neither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
" |* g+ d* g5 x, t4 D, J: E4 ?deficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-' C$ _6 I9 ~- \1 y" N5 ~2 g, w$ f
ing the normal level of adrenal steroids.. e; i9 ]2 |) m( [+ ~9 q. @( ]
The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly |6 c$ X# P- j: B, y, W% N. v
suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because! c8 A0 @; O( `% C6 C
the physical examination revealed the complete disap- C1 v2 L! m2 z/ ^+ ^
pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and
" v- S( e: t8 k3 g! a8 i" I' p& P ?decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-, { d3 a* A3 { C1 u; e$ y
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
1 I# V* U% ?. ]using it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’
- |, ]5 ~ w" w, `Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or4 y% c+ L1 |3 l; M) S" ^
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to
4 P$ F Y( u+ m) p! t& f# Aunprotected females through direct skin exposure./ I# V2 {2 |% L/ ^
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the0 d; m- |2 k* @% U; E5 [$ r$ q+ s
baseline value in those females who were exposed to
/ M. u$ X/ ?3 K8 D# A, ?even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male
. f5 \7 j/ x8 s# V$ ? W+ t# }" H: X. Spartners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-
1 N4 |7 `6 O8 B: Vtion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
9 @3 Y) a' p; x5 HOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,
( s3 M- J1 b" iwhich was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
9 C' k, W6 F5 G h1 @dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-" B, V1 b: o7 |& K' i
terone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more
) q7 H9 ?* q; ~! B0 S$ l7 lactive in young children exposed to testosterone
$ v7 n4 s# _) W* G& q6 t) w+ Hexogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-
! R |, Y! p/ z+ o0 c) j; R1 Bdrotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
) P0 c) @: b6 q K3 lvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in8 ?3 l/ ~- N; U4 ^2 d( y
children results in an increase in growth velocity and- _& V5 i' F) I0 U
advanced bone age, as seen in our patient.
0 l' L4 K* j8 I5 q) YThe long-term effect of androgen exposure during, f; {( b3 f6 w; K
early childhood on pubertal development and final* A+ F( E9 k7 l7 F( j& H
adult height are not fully known and always remain
* T# q( B" H j) Y# p0 ma concern. Children treated with short-term testos-
8 k j `4 j6 rterone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some
1 b/ Q7 c, q" ?: `6 B4 Eacceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after. l& q4 j. Z8 s
cessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation, w# q( L8 Y* Z5 b! }$ V" X- z
decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
: b$ s# `7 ^4 f3 B) X& aThere are conflicting reports and controversy
# v9 s; M7 o O# t% G4 P5 gover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult% F! Y6 @/ a) L5 X( [; O
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal0 Z. I8 {/ [4 M
adult penile length, apparently because of downreg-
/ M1 U2 x2 m" i0 J4 N" l+ qulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,0 ~- d$ ^7 X' b9 ]: `6 h/ I
Sutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
' P0 B, O" q1 `5 }childhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult
* @# v2 v3 f7 d7 G3 Y \8 ppenile length in clinical studies.
: ~1 x! J2 N+ f' Y+ Z% ~1 VNonetheless, we do not believe our patient is
4 S4 \! i2 R/ D& l, Cgoing to experience any of the untoward effects from' R" ^6 }( v! P$ M1 Z
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because
$ O6 x B) }/ ~1 b8 jthe exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.
" W) d' r+ i7 B5 f$ r! Q- kAlthough the bone age was advanced at the time of
, W+ ]$ k8 p& R0 J- X* u2 tdiagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at/ r( u: p1 Q3 @& [
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult
6 D4 U; \- M6 s4 gheight will not be affected." y. V1 u* f `( i7 r5 j! p' F
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail-
+ V( z. p7 N5 Z1 ?8 u( {; Rability of androgen products in our society may
3 h2 g" o, c3 ]; Sindeed cause more virilization in male or female7 c, F" z9 k+ ~% S
children than one would realize. Exposure to andro-
) s! p9 E# ^0 K/ a0 v) sgen products must be considered and specific ques-
# W/ E9 c+ F7 |# M1 h7 _' a+ itioning about the use of a testosterone product or
7 N2 {6 j f0 q' f9 ygel should be asked of the family members during
1 N; v: h% M8 o& i& X# W _' Uthe evaluation of any children who present with vir-
! _( @1 \& g; j0 q" }* [ilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-9 l% ?! h9 H# f! m& Y& v
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by! @0 s4 w2 z) g
appropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
4 c3 \1 ?. |* W# y, g6 Ghistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may
, f4 X1 h3 L3 N) @8 r7 P7 bresult in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive
3 {& x1 f6 l( dinvestigation. The primary care physician should be
0 M; s% e" j) s$ ]7 S2 n7 h: Saware of this fact, because most of these children: u5 [/ }- N9 W. s' ~. G( ~
may initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
F! {+ Z' J5 I' p6 ~Desk Reference and package insert should also put a2 d! Q& O i1 h( ^
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or
' I# T4 y1 I3 k S% \female child who might come in contact with some-3 g- O; b. b4 a
one using any of these products.
h( Z/ P* V! h1 B/ q; Z8 uReferences* s) X& I* X& U8 I5 o& E7 h2 _
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation, O6 T4 B, Z. W, k% ^7 a$ t! C
and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric) g6 n% m# P. s$ O& i
Endocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;
6 v1 m+ L0 k, h5 i8 {! w2002: 565-628.4 |$ g: l) D1 a$ ]. w
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious7 r: U8 w( \9 r; V
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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