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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old& ^7 J" J5 P: K% B q
Boy Induced by Indirect Topical% H, b/ p$ c' e9 k) _1 M. K8 l
Exposure to Testosterone
& c/ `, q# w5 \0 z) E( [$ RSamar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2
/ `7 u9 r9 l7 `! Eand Kenneth R. Rettig, MD1: R0 h4 N' E0 u
Clinical Pediatrics
/ m' X% A# `9 aVolume 46 Number 6( M1 {* }3 K5 Q0 _
July 2007 540-543
9 U2 |9 v& P3 O© 2007 Sage Publications) n; r3 u; i' x, R
10.1177/00099228062966513 { Z- D; w D2 Z8 B6 z
http://clp.sagepub.com6 X' e2 F; r- r) `, x: y
hosted at
/ B4 ?0 V, ~/ T" H Thttp://online.sagepub.com6 l% N$ O4 {" Z0 J
Precocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,
" g6 B! ~3 `" V) p' K+ q! Nis a significant concern for physicians. Central
" t8 k! l$ G r) j( E- B+ N# D& cprecocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
7 U* D+ ~/ g9 k- ], E0 nthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has
! L( _& ^ s) b4 da higher incidence of organic central nervous system2 k0 p* Z& Y2 @. E$ g4 J
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
5 V) M. _ N: \: {% hby enlargement of the penis, development of pubic! L: t9 w$ w Y+ s. q
hair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-
+ v* y' l9 S( W4 a7 \3 o+ ?( Fcles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We2 u- w k* v) P2 d! D2 e
report a 16-month-old boy who presented with the
( h$ w+ B' Y3 R G. D2 Z3 R9 E- z3 Uenlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
7 W' z: E# ]+ V, }0 z% iment without testicular enlargement, which was due9 G. @% i: V6 [% D; k. u0 M
to the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by# x% P W. W, a5 g8 j
the father. The family initially concealed this infor-
9 U' m A F" u4 k" t0 P' t. Z, r$ |mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this
: p, I6 U* x! @9 z. s0 S: t: o. Gchild. Given the widespread and easy availability of
& z( _8 Q! [/ j) h2 A3 ztestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-
+ [4 s; c4 D2 [4 g/ y( Ibly more common than the rare case report in the
+ }) T& n2 H* L5 vliterature.4+ e& Z; U9 `( d8 u2 H9 h% \* @% @
Patient Report% ~& u; L' {- a% j9 U
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the
. u) k' k% u+ C- iendocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
, R* e# [! {! D4 c/ j' S6 K* Hof early sexual development. His mother noticed' {+ ^. k) i3 |9 w4 Y2 [3 G2 g. N8 L' Q
light colored pubic hair development when he was
* W! W7 a3 q& F( Y/ ^4 q, pFrom the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
; F+ l' d5 z) [# M1 e: r* u1 oSouth Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama./ |* X- w! `% N& U0 N- ^: @' p
Address correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,& q; {' L0 v3 p: @; }
Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
* \" T* m- ~. Z" n1 ~Medicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;
) S6 w0 x/ d, \- c& ~5 fe-mail: [email protected].+ f7 B& A# j4 H& B/ M
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
8 E0 T0 a1 u2 }. f2 ?darker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
) d6 t5 m2 J4 s1 I) v ~, q6 s! [ment of his penis and frequent erections. The child
3 s a. e: B: J% }7 _was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with: {/ E1 }. Z3 m7 F
a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of, S% Y5 M' j H# h# E- b( L8 C5 w% z* `
20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year( ~7 D& ?! i4 [8 W) D- z
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with" r X B+ s" j, v4 ]
solid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery, k6 Z) P9 L+ B$ O0 p
and his psychosocial and psychomotor development
- _- y* t" z2 S5 k6 Z s2 Uwas age appropriate.4 Z: f8 L8 t! d$ V Z6 C
The family history was remarkable for the father,3 e1 z; G4 @# A2 A1 `+ f5 e) |
who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,( M$ H$ G; t y- X
which was treated with thyroxine. The father’s B) B2 C% ~+ p3 t# u
height was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat* \9 P! w0 y: n8 R
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14." o1 K/ v6 @: N R( Q5 h
The father denied taking any other medication. The. j9 `9 k6 k$ k2 r& ^; p
child’s mother was in good health. Her menarche
& V' A' |7 J0 S4 r3 f4 bwas at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet
( P. m# t) \, d- q: g+ j) g5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-
" k1 L6 }6 \: O# ]: x- ]cocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
0 m# j; U: O. w8 X- Y, ttives. There were no siblings.
9 B, a# E4 x8 Q- N+ Y2 g" p cPhysical Examination
: s) U% ^7 H/ h% t; }- sThe physical examination revealed a very active,) N0 \8 k b& Q9 Z
playful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented
% K, z& U7 ?" e2 R. G/ [a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was
/ z" m( R' J$ X* H" b8 n8 r90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg
5 d4 G5 R i. m. d k2 P H(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth
5 G2 O1 t5 N9 {; Cvelocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of* t/ K5 n. J2 q% S4 G9 [
the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.+ X4 ~: X9 O! Y4 u: i
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for) d5 l9 I$ C9 A) G$ ]! s
enlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of
7 ?5 o4 O K0 i" a' z0 n P/ u8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
, N6 L( k5 {! n2 [. ]! e, {developed. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around1 j/ W. ]# G. y5 M+ Q" @' o* F
5401 U8 i& r5 e; n% B2 t
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from3 b' ^# ?, p4 Y. `& I
the base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The
Q- u; C5 A) `. ~0 B8 l1 ~4 Utesticular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.& A6 r: L5 j3 n
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat
/ @1 u9 p0 w) n* A! C: goily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
- P8 T. U/ Q4 k0 _7 Y. f/ Pabnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.7 n$ a K! e- ~
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+6 ?4 u8 Q& J# E3 u
bilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion
$ _7 |5 I" R3 p2 Kof papilledema.
# d! v% ~1 P2 k8 `5 C: r5 t2 L. |Laboratory Evaluation
$ `9 D: v: W2 p) k A& N7 FThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by
! ^5 g+ `' X/ y. h; M& @using the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-
* U! j2 ]0 z' Nlogic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal' l) s D' K! Q& i6 t
karyotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test
0 `: \$ C# }5 \9 R( C& oshowed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-% I [0 e7 X* C" m' X4 ]$ }2 S
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).* N$ ?2 H1 X5 v y5 x
The concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood7 J# y( J( J* G4 p: V& e4 n- f y
urea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
( o6 F7 [5 x. W# Fwithin normal range for his age. The concentration! T6 Y! b& [. j4 @! W
of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
& \% n" ~$ ^& t) u2 d3 P' o(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20
0 k% ~1 r2 l1 a6 L8 r0 Mng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
9 i* O3 `; z+ _0 E0 K* i# j: X2 d2 cterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
$ G, j+ n* N+ `# Gdesoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to
) O. x( H) {8 \& A, \' M49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S)
% i/ p+ @% v7 M5 Ywas 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-2 ^) ?6 U# w5 o( U: e& i" O6 G9 M
tisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total
8 C0 E) \9 v& h& ~) e$ t& Wtestosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),
) a+ Y" s( y) m; V* w, N( \' n. ~and β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
8 s8 \+ J/ A4 V! p+ p# q5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
& e# R: Q4 U" C0 nstimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone
" E3 n# h9 n5 h9 J! `/ c# Vconcentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
4 ~- S1 Q* Q3 |" p% D& m1 m' R0 k(prepubertal).9 l' R1 T* l, l
The parents were notified about the laboratory6 G& C+ R5 j7 V$ e5 v# H8 w3 \- _5 @
results and were informed that all of the tests were& v! O& }) {9 j3 S
normal except the testosterone level was high. The
5 d, H- G5 q4 w8 G, Z+ Bfollow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to9 n2 Q; [% p; R, Y1 u
obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-( j" M' b9 t4 _, c# q( L( Z
ever, the family did not return for 4 months.* ^3 a \! h" y- P+ D
Physical examination at this time revealed that the9 a0 T' u( r6 h m% n& o' X
child had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained6 y# N% U/ N# }
2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
# Q% z' i- {) C# _, t$ gunchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-2 \) {" B0 K* Z' c' w
pletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at* o6 C3 O1 g9 W3 b m
the base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2( E& \: H$ s1 a
mL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.
" t3 g. U" E$ G8 X1 c- d# xThe mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-# S+ ?2 Z& s1 J
ing frequent erections.
9 ]( v; p, ?; D& Y- }& [Both parents were again questioned about use of
# r" |. e6 A, [# F" b: f8 Jany ointment/creams that they may have applied to
! D- a" O& r& [0 y: b& vthe child’s skin. This time the father admitted the5 D& ]2 E8 a3 M5 V
Topical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541, q2 j! o) n$ |' i y
use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-& z8 ?0 n: R5 r6 \8 u( D3 ~
ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for# g( @! a+ ^0 \; p
a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed) n# [7 Q! V4 O8 b, U9 W3 V( h' n
to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-: D$ P3 F3 E8 Q
scribed by his family physician for decreased libido1 x6 ?2 E) Z9 i$ |' e' s
secondary to depression.7 [( o0 }$ x, @% w8 b
The child slept in the same bed with parents.) p, E8 {9 e" O1 s9 h6 ^! n
The father would hug the baby and hold him on his: I1 U- F$ U" h. e0 J" w8 H- I2 C
chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-
; b, i! V& a" V( B- F5 W J1 Qnificant bare skin contact between baby and father.# {# b1 s% O8 t% y. z
The father also admitted that after the phone call,
3 u& t6 j- m/ Y& E J$ M$ ?7 {when he learned the testosterone level in the baby
4 u, U; G, D! r8 _/ r1 y; B0 qwas high, he then read the product information
4 G0 |2 l- F/ R. x0 g7 {! Gpacket and concluded that it was most likely the rea-3 M" g' f) Q; Q; p) o b
son for the child’s virilization. At that time, they
5 Z2 M# I* b) I2 g3 I3 B0 @$ ]decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the- W# H- y' Q/ U8 v9 S
father was not hugging him with bare skin and had- S. l1 R! W @9 _/ A* w
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone
6 m3 z& I' t6 @' q" ttest was ordered, but the family did not go to the& s4 W7 Q* ~2 y" A% `/ F$ S
laboratory to obtain the test.
+ S7 X! B3 w8 p* }' |; X, fDiscussion+ R0 S& Q1 ~4 v5 m: S
Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary# G; q6 E$ \+ ^ ]" }" Z6 R; [
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4
( f- x: E" {2 m5 \: C' w& z( APrecocious puberty is termed as central (true) when8 G9 _) z. }- @& H, ?' n
it is caused by the premature activation of hypo-1 u7 D: i3 Q: R1 M0 o+ i
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-5 r+ o6 t/ [. a% C6 N
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP* J4 w# D) ~3 X, Y8 K
may have a central nervous system lesion that is+ `1 i; Q) s7 g3 H6 m+ f; ~
responsible for the early activation of the hypothal-
7 W8 e+ ^; l0 F0 v0 oamic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-
' x' P' A) D) g. Z5 d6 X& nsis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in5 W: l" V0 T3 n' v* B( [* l3 {
boys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
+ ]* B3 ^1 _7 }) Z7 M& k, R" a' Fization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
& H9 a# M% A/ Mrical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
4 q7 m9 u: g; l& \gonadotropins.1,3
( e# k1 N& w2 P' f5 Q) H# s6 U# q8 gGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-% |+ _" Y, X- k' l8 z/ U: {# A2 i
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate5 h8 i. @! W( E5 |& Z4 _. B; F& O0 P
androgenic stimulation from either endogenous or
, d! s. u1 l8 v/ P uexogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-: n6 J" e5 G' o+ O
ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing' Q7 }# r( _$ G2 ?+ L% l, Y6 t2 {5 K& `
congenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive
% _8 [: i1 ]! e+ Z5 o4 l+ O5 K# tadrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
! N3 X; T+ K$ M6 u, y7 zpuberty in boys.3,4/ L, |% b- S( |+ D
The most common form of congenital adrenal% p: ^/ T" j: z8 [4 |9 @" x
hyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.
9 c; r; [7 S. ~/ M5 Y% N# l7 U/ q7 \The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
4 k! _2 O! P9 hexcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,( m) L" o. d4 `: X8 z) F
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
' _# n4 I4 T3 b1 b7 Z! C+ N1 Kexcess.1,3# A1 c1 r& p/ L4 d/ ^) u
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
' @8 ~# i4 B3 K. B- [5 d542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007+ i# s" C: ~: K3 @; O. c: i* \5 a$ C
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-. ~4 N9 }( [/ ^6 R+ ?# O) w$ [
independent precocious puberty, which is also known
, N h& @8 ^ z: {# q, Zas testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a' F) D! K3 z8 F% |/ R/ J2 T
very young age. The physical findings in these boys$ a. |# G- V/ w1 e" Y7 {+ u% j
with this disorder are full pubertal development,* R: ^1 o! V' a
including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys d( ~3 Y& i% f
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder
; z8 u" x# y) k6 N* E3 j6 rare suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
) j4 U# b; J$ ?1 g# j7 }2 wpubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-/ W0 T( a$ T5 \- L! N, W/ P! N
releasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked
: d" t5 L% \4 s' [5 z, _' M+ Iautosomal dominant disorder that affects only1 C: k0 h: d. {! U
males; therefore, other male members of the family/ H" U$ K: \ A, q) h( D' z
may have similar precocious puberty.3
" e8 _$ q4 l7 w' b2 O; \In our patient, physical examination was incon-
& }3 p1 ?) O- J4 j& Vsistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-
0 B1 Q% `2 E" Pcles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
2 Z8 r6 u" f9 v; k4 Bwas in the differential diagnosis because his father
h v8 ? A! v5 y8 \started puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
% L/ J, e* J2 {3 m: @testicular enlargement is not that evident in the7 ^' m5 [: B2 r) Y& H
beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-
6 L- A* Z. E' h* v7 c, Uative initial history of androgen exposure, our# O" \3 P$ L9 O& m- G; I2 Z" l: ~
biggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,
) _# R/ a5 {: W9 ]1 Eeither 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase3 K$ r3 R w* N, o% A% k/ L
deficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
7 l/ j5 X; J! B' [. bing the normal level of adrenal steroids.
% Z- s" y& h1 p6 }The diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
4 Y1 c! k( K3 G3 _- D1 ysuspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
8 V% \- P) J) ^ wthe physical examination revealed the complete disap-
" r$ q8 O7 U9 Y. tpearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and; S( {" v$ X( E/ f+ O$ ]% D
decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-* V y, I4 L, Y; E
terone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was4 E' _, R; {! U" h& ~6 x, O# M' g+ w
using it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’7 q$ S$ n, @: t- m) X9 v9 O
Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or
: j1 W6 `' o5 d9 z) X. v! x% qcream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to' |+ m X$ L3 H/ @. S) \
unprotected females through direct skin exposure.7 b) M# }3 Y; q: v( Y: G
Serum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the! A" B. F5 N1 u$ s
baseline value in those females who were exposed to# j, E' s. W4 C5 }
even 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male
% P* b Q, Z1 M( i, P a. Ipartners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-
! s; \6 a5 R/ f: S( k& i+ G( P0 Qtion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
* W! W( H( ]& k- x p4 [ W3 {Our patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL, a" I0 a5 B' y" }8 C7 N
which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that( M$ G$ V8 F$ \! G/ i( X0 e
dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-
; y. B2 n* W+ F+ Rterone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more# }# ~4 v) I& e4 @ I$ d6 r9 R0 W- [
active in young children exposed to testosterone
5 \7 p4 u/ O! W- d1 Wexogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-, C; n) ]7 P3 x. t
drotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
9 X+ b6 t7 X+ hvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in( H4 ^& U8 t- S8 A: l7 I1 N- n
children results in an increase in growth velocity and
3 w3 ]. ]& _) z. cadvanced bone age, as seen in our patient.6 Q9 {/ p( B) ]" ^/ y+ t
The long-term effect of androgen exposure during
8 g. y$ ^9 Q7 i9 p* ], ?early childhood on pubertal development and final
2 D# b8 H3 [- H! w; k$ ^+ q8 ~% {adult height are not fully known and always remain
4 D+ w) T7 j* x- O# S* E/ z9 s) La concern. Children treated with short-term testos-
/ d/ c- d' k, ?) \terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some2 x7 P' t3 R9 ?. Y/ C+ a: o# H
acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after
7 h3 \: ^& b, z% E" Xcessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation
! {4 T0 i5 f9 v# ~# |( p! odecelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,9
1 m2 x5 a1 Q- F( oThere are conflicting reports and controversy
2 v# M8 f8 ~; {0 D/ h+ x, Qover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult
! b7 T/ q/ p* @" d2 V) u/ ?+ @penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal
( D- q& w% Z" Yadult penile length, apparently because of downreg-7 X& g& ?+ n# b9 ^2 l$ C" ^
ulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,
# ~) \" L1 o- Q; U+ Z1 _9 sSutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between
) A# G( R1 [. l! D$ Uchildhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult% @& c _. G8 J" J* b" M) P
penile length in clinical studies.
" K$ q: |+ g% L+ N! j: GNonetheless, we do not believe our patient is
) e8 v: u! K: r- w. Igoing to experience any of the untoward effects from
, ]" q) {( l# ?5 W9 \( p$ {testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because+ F% c; P- N% r. h
the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time. b' r2 q7 b2 `' K: p
Although the bone age was advanced at the time of' ~4 O9 ~% t3 }
diagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at {/ A9 L9 K0 n
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult" L' C( U: ]0 B+ J3 I
height will not be affected.
# q) O+ T# {3 P/ W0 ]7 }7 qAlthough rarely reported, the widespread avail-8 T0 Q' ?6 [) A) ^* i+ t
ability of androgen products in our society may; p# p. B) n+ X, n
indeed cause more virilization in male or female
8 P& K' \0 K7 Z9 r: Jchildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-9 [ h5 f$ g2 D/ B3 ~( k
gen products must be considered and specific ques-
0 X1 C2 ?+ j* f! t! C# D3 mtioning about the use of a testosterone product or2 P3 a. B6 n& S8 _5 d2 d
gel should be asked of the family members during& e0 {" A0 p3 r$ U$ \. c5 n* G
the evaluation of any children who present with vir-8 C, X' | \* [' s ?2 g# }
ilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-* D9 f' c* [, g" _
nosis can be established by just a few tests and by
0 q3 U# f' `0 A% |3 a% m# M1 P( Happropriate history. The inability to obtain such a0 c" v; Q4 v4 z4 v8 o
history, or failure to ask the specific questions, may' y# t; R7 P0 m' C. y: `
result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive1 A; U$ A% G, S7 n; _
investigation. The primary care physician should be
8 r" C7 a; C; kaware of this fact, because most of these children$ h1 j$ d; k8 p! z" M! Z' k
may initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
% z% O1 b( d) o7 ~. N$ O& B$ bDesk Reference and package insert should also put a8 n9 U/ F# T( ?* ^
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or
# w8 }' a& t, c; Z. Yfemale child who might come in contact with some- g- p+ ]4 g+ G
one using any of these products.! M9 m$ a( \" ~ C2 W
References% N. l* P6 P Z" Q/ G9 t
1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
T9 y! s. H$ h* I" A$ }and puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric
* `; ]) b+ C# w3 Y# N, \# |, a' LEndocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;6 d. Z7 u$ y0 X7 L8 P* U; V
2002: 565-628.6 b7 |/ y* d! s/ }8 M( f- C0 N
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious5 I9 l& Y t1 K: l. u) }: J, r
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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