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Sexual Precocity in a 16-Month-Old
' ?% \9 O# x; y# G, D ~; qBoy Induced by Indirect Topical
6 u' h: u5 E, w( H' oExposure to Testosterone0 F% k4 h' |5 P) u! b: y
Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,1 Tracy Ricke, MD,2
3 g% @6 ]" ?( ^2 Y' h! Uand Kenneth R. Rettig, MD16 L" \; T; v) @# C, V
Clinical Pediatrics
8 H8 ]8 K$ c' QVolume 46 Number 6! c3 W6 U6 _7 B( D" S, I7 q/ h
July 2007 540-543
/ \% L: e6 L0 J( I© 2007 Sage Publications
' b1 @0 J2 C4 Q8 {$ m10.1177/00099228062966510 q; l5 e* T6 \6 a
http://clp.sagepub.com! q% V6 m/ Q2 `# J6 ^+ |% ~7 |5 }
hosted at8 ^- v# t9 s5 k k: ]
http://online.sagepub.com
+ H: x& D. f7 }. v7 DPrecocious puberty in boys, central or peripheral,
4 w% S- U# l9 N2 d ?is a significant concern for physicians. Central! p0 e4 q/ `# S2 n$ h3 q. N
precocious puberty (CPP), which is mediated
0 s' b3 P+ Z9 w. Vthrough the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, has
8 A9 j2 {0 V: S) ea higher incidence of organic central nervous system: Z& R6 u- g: \/ h/ e" U- ]) J
lesions in boys.1,2 Virilization in boys, as manifested
v' I1 x$ I! \6 f/ g0 l( ?2 ?by enlargement of the penis, development of pubic
2 R* G+ ~! j; h ~/ X# d% z2 V- @3 Fhair, and facial acne without enlargement of testi-1 A$ f* ~( T3 V
cles, suggests peripheral or pseudopuberty.1-3 We
0 b' J" i7 p# r/ v+ [- r6 qreport a 16-month-old boy who presented with the% d* U6 u0 Z" y4 P7 z6 ^, \9 N
enlargement of the phallus and pubic hair develop-
, E& W9 A1 j+ U/ }ment without testicular enlargement, which was due
# _; X; g% b) ?0 e T0 p; q& pto the unintentional exposure to androgen gel used by
% N4 I* c- r8 P% c: pthe father. The family initially concealed this infor-+ e- r9 r; H& @ @7 d6 c" a2 e5 L
mation, resulting in an extensive work-up for this
+ B; a! { ?2 y0 q: Z( Z9 Mchild. Given the widespread and easy availability of
) U7 @ [. e& F1 Xtestosterone gel and cream, we believe this is proba-" l( s0 R" _4 ?) u' V; J
bly more common than the rare case report in the
# B6 G# X2 i: F! e3 p8 tliterature.4
+ x; W6 v- x: m/ X1 rPatient Report4 }- ~1 Q, ^/ Z) s' h# D: v$ D
A 16-month-old white child was referred to the/ s$ n9 W# S/ j6 M2 M
endocrine clinic by his pediatrician with the concern
- H% q' @) K: u L; o; wof early sexual development. His mother noticed) f0 i4 Q, p$ N- ]0 J |8 N4 [
light colored pubic hair development when he was
1 A4 k! c2 p9 s# }" hFrom the 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2University of
. [; y- q$ N* _' N, f5 cSouth Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.2 V @; Q, s2 ^+ {( ^; X+ |5 {
Address correspondence to: Samar K. Bhowmick, MD, FACE,
, O* e, M' U9 q2 L% ?Professor of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, College of
7 m. n1 y, P3 j( r, M# J# CMedicine, 2451 Fillingim St. Mastin 212, Mobile, AL 36617-2297;" y h/ h- {( d9 |( b0 f
e-mail: [email protected].) |8 C) b$ {3 g9 x: K
about 6 to 7 months old, which progressively became
: Z* p7 E: g, b# G! L1 Z4 p2 D* G" r# ]darker. She was also concerned about the enlarge-
4 o9 ~! s. J& ~. Nment of his penis and frequent erections. The child! U/ `3 S# b: ^9 L& M
was the product of a full-term normal delivery, with
0 b1 F8 d8 M, X3 x5 v/ Z/ `3 C" x0 R6 ]a birth weight of 7 lb 14 oz, and birth length of
' `4 b6 T2 H# `20 inches. He was breast-fed throughout the first year- i" L! ] l5 P
of life and was still receiving breast milk along with
& B3 E% J) Q) C) ^* b- }3 `4 Psolid food. He had no hospitalizations or surgery,! V. n, u9 ]$ [: _* S+ x2 Y7 ^
and his psychosocial and psychomotor development
% X+ j5 A% ]) ^2 I/ n( @was age appropriate.
2 |! h& L8 m2 ]2 Y. X% OThe family history was remarkable for the father,
. D3 d# [3 _* P+ H, G0 a, ^who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 16,
; V# t; i: f1 f% G0 owhich was treated with thyroxine. The father’s* m, n5 o1 J3 r$ P v
height was 6 feet, and he went through a somewhat7 F/ A$ \8 z% \5 s
early puberty and had stopped growing by age 14.& W* }5 ]) V" J8 w% V
The father denied taking any other medication. The% G- i; V' P" U- i p
child’s mother was in good health. Her menarche W, N/ d# z3 O2 M# ~2 k
was at 11 years of age, and her height was at 5 feet
- B$ Z! Z! W3 H) `9 _& s5 inches. There was no other family history of pre-
# D' m' G8 V l+ Y/ l1 L. d+ h: pcocious sexual development in the first-degree rela-
, W R Z2 e) ^: i7 c! B7 N) Ptives. There were no siblings.
- h' s0 p9 j4 k8 v, H$ S6 ^Physical Examination& s# v& {* @9 }% _9 ?
The physical examination revealed a very active,; @$ x" r( d: ^- Y
playful, and healthy boy. The vital signs documented0 ^" B8 ]3 p! B- ]$ o
a blood pressure of 85/50 mm Hg, his length was
) R. c4 q4 U# A$ Y90 cm (>97th percentile), and his weight was 14.4 kg
: g- L! }% E, a! Q% @1 W(also >97th percentile). The observed yearly growth
/ b% E9 U; Q- `0 v+ A: f) Cvelocity was 30 cm (12 inches). The examination of+ y* y$ E& A4 a% b
the neck revealed no thyroid enlargement.) P: ~9 u2 {( u/ v% T" r7 s b T
The genitourinary examination was remarkable for
3 H/ ?! m# T( S# f9 K" menlargement of the penis, with a stretched length of
; o1 \. D, y6 X; w8 cm and a width of 2 cm. The glans penis was very well
6 I$ V! k$ a# X# }! m7 Y% odeveloped. The pubic hair was Tanner II, mostly around
/ v- ]5 l, T2 u! P5 {8 z% A H5406 ~ x S# ^6 l" L
at University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
( m$ E9 o3 r: Wthe base of the phallus and was dark and curled. The, b+ T5 L0 X% @& Q
testicular volume was prepubertal at 2 mL each.6 ]. W2 f& g/ d& ?$ s9 a, ^
The skin was moist and smooth and somewhat
. g5 K% L$ H L' W/ N9 w. @oily. No axillary hair was noted. There were no
4 f( D- S1 x3 U/ ~abnormal skin pigmentations or café-au-lait spots.1 s& H0 J1 _6 }' y2 ]4 v; k
Neurologic evaluation showed deep tendon reflex 2+
0 `* q$ d& y6 l5 w( P e9 A# @bilateral and symmetrical. There was no suggestion4 R9 c* c9 @! c
of papilledema.
, c7 r" T" S( u3 I5 Y$ uLaboratory Evaluation
* |0 a1 D5 F/ k- P; KThe bone age was consistent with 28 months by
- q% W4 d, t) D" Musing the standard of Greulich and Pyle at a chrono-; u% P6 g( t+ E3 V8 g- e- c& k
logic age of 16 months (advanced).5 Chromosomal
0 b3 E; s: U. ^1 K" [3 R2 Q0 i9 Mkaryotype was 46XY. The thyroid function test7 N8 O7 u, W3 a4 d2 C4 N4 R
showed a free T4 of 1.69 ng/dL, and thyroid stimu-* c6 N% k2 G7 o* \$ Y
lating hormone level was 1.3 µIU/mL (both normal).
1 T- F M' b' S! @$ t7 p- pThe concentrations of serum electrolytes, blood
8 P( Z3 f1 T; I0 p ?/ G2 yurea nitrogen, creatinine, and calcium all were
! n$ T, y, o" N2 D3 F# r- C. Xwithin normal range for his age. The concentration
/ ^8 |/ Q' N& u2 e V6 Fof serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone was 16 ng/dL
- Z( w, _: S, t8 j0 k. U2 c1 \ g(normal, 3 to 90 ng/dL), androstenedione was 20
) T) a2 `$ s, g3 I! s" m. tng/dL (normal, 18 to 80 ng/dL), dehydroepiandros-
N! \1 n+ k, s/ }3 Eterone was 38 ng/dL (normal, 50 to 760 ng/dL),
# j1 f" x- I8 v( \" @desoxycorticosterone was 4.3 ng/dL (normal, 7 to
- a2 U& a( v/ s$ }8 d49ng/dL), 11-desoxycortisol (specific compound S): v5 I2 V9 F: |- F" X; R& m
was 43 ng/dL (normal, 10 to 156 ng/dL), serum cor-' i) x3 y2 b! t0 V" i: i \
tisol was 7.6 µg/dL (normal, 2.8 to 23 µg/dL), total3 x/ J+ H- a$ Q! s
testosterone was 60 ng/dL (normal <3 to 10 ng/dL),
6 I: ^1 K9 I8 E! {- x4 M- ]: Iand β-human chorionic gonadotropin was less than
- s8 T. r& ^7 ~% X3 F" k5 mIU/mL (normal <5 mIU/mL). Serum follicular
7 ]7 v5 N, r; l/ g& b5 Estimulating hormone and leuteinizing hormone
$ G+ a' M7 P. H. _& C" c- lconcentrations were less than 0.05 mIU/mL
) s* I, M" p" h' Q, J/ n, M(prepubertal).# [/ p4 t" \* w3 {$ k- u
The parents were notified about the laboratory
2 H* h3 B9 |7 I& Z1 L) F: hresults and were informed that all of the tests were
) n2 Q' P5 h; ` R9 k; s7 lnormal except the testosterone level was high. The$ Z% _ v6 m6 w" k! y* V; c) C: k
follow-up visit was arranged within a few weeks to
+ N% m M- g4 i: r' i6 @obtain testicular and abdominal sonograms; how-
" T6 ]$ C( b- [ever, the family did not return for 4 months.' m7 Z7 a4 J( c( W$ {; ?
Physical examination at this time revealed that the
5 v3 W: ?' a$ R) f! achild had grown 2.5 cm in 4 months and had gained
# J( l- j$ ?. ?- G2 kg of weight. Physical examination remained
+ r2 v8 R ^- h4 O Lunchanged. Surprisingly, the pubic hair almost com-" N) C. p3 ] {
pletely disappeared except for a few vellous hairs at
# [/ k/ k/ m x& Rthe base of the phallus. Testicular volume was still 2
6 Z8 b6 l" W( i" }mL, and the size of the penis remained unchanged.
* G+ A: |6 E' tThe mother also said that the boy was no longer hav-5 G# M3 h9 W) L1 ~4 B' P
ing frequent erections.1 _/ N G, T/ T# l9 M* J( @! y
Both parents were again questioned about use of% _# P H5 E4 J! |
any ointment/creams that they may have applied to
( x& G" D# [6 }' Gthe child’s skin. This time the father admitted the
$ l5 t' q$ ~/ q! M. d$ dTopical Testosterone Exposure / Bhowmick et al 541
9 h" L7 B4 Q8 S* }use of testosterone gel twice daily that he was apply-* E) `- `8 L1 h' [' S' t
ing over his own shoulders, chest, and back area for5 p& A' C! }5 ` V2 w
a year. The father also revealed he was embarrassed
4 J8 V9 N _; T# u7 I8 T6 [* b% P. }to disclose that he was using a testosterone gel pre-
+ R4 X! ?5 u8 w9 f, c; z# V+ d' Iscribed by his family physician for decreased libido
! l1 C, ]9 ~5 Q. z1 x' I! X* i' Nsecondary to depression.
" i. \3 L; P; j+ dThe child slept in the same bed with parents.
v0 b0 U6 W" S k0 e9 H* `/ P* EThe father would hug the baby and hold him on his
, g- A: M+ b* _chest for a considerable period of time, causing sig-
3 h4 G4 Y% D* l) Anificant bare skin contact between baby and father.1 ~( `# l! G* A
The father also admitted that after the phone call,. |5 w$ E% {) {6 a7 ]. B/ ?, M& J
when he learned the testosterone level in the baby
+ i" j0 z8 ^( N2 `4 Uwas high, he then read the product information2 b9 L! x7 U8 L/ Z; d$ B, K
packet and concluded that it was most likely the rea-
1 ~( ^0 h; g2 u1 H3 Z: e1 uson for the child’s virilization. At that time, they
2 F2 N+ R& ?+ b+ ]) N* s5 V6 O# g0 X8 @decided to put the baby in a separate bed, and the
4 k% ^! n! ]( ^+ A$ d9 P) lfather was not hugging him with bare skin and had0 s* T! d0 p, W. v4 o- u( K# n
been using protective clothing. A repeat testosterone
$ p7 y7 y) t' a4 ltest was ordered, but the family did not go to the
4 x* i( J+ D! x$ S8 Qlaboratory to obtain the test.$ Z5 }6 _, O9 i* F
Discussion* [# m, N: a; B& Q
Precocious puberty in boys is defined as secondary& o2 z/ k, x3 Y$ m8 f
sexual development before 9 years of age.1,4
% ]# j# ]7 I4 t3 i' [Precocious puberty is termed as central (true) when
3 p ?$ r4 y9 Wit is caused by the premature activation of hypo-7 ?8 ^3 X1 f0 K- [" y, @& G7 k# \
thalamic pituitary gonadal axis. CPP is more com-+ d8 R9 h4 e* l/ P
mon in girls than in boys.1,3 Most boys with CPP) ]: N& W2 E8 H) o+ O; m
may have a central nervous system lesion that is+ C$ B* M) X5 ]/ Q+ A0 w7 @
responsible for the early activation of the hypothal-1 i! u4 v6 ]2 I5 |0 W
amic pituitary gonadal axis.1-3 Thus, greater empha-
2 d- X& `, f% w) D( n* bsis has been given to neuroradiologic imaging in
6 x( o: p7 [) O' A1 s+ C B9 mboys with precocious puberty. In addition to viril-
/ s0 t* U9 E- R0 e0 Tization, the clinical hallmark of CPP is the symmet-
?2 G4 t6 k) Prical testicular growth secondary to stimulation by
8 j+ R0 b y2 L: w; L3 `" u, `gonadotropins.1,3
4 O! z: \- J6 f( hGonadotropin-independent peripheral preco-4 u2 B: l y* [
cious puberty in boys also results from inappropriate
( e( `/ |9 t$ P8 Gandrogenic stimulation from either endogenous or+ T& h' e- B% y! q$ Q$ I& s
exogenous sources, nonpituitary gonadotropin stim-; p/ ?2 U* ~ I: y0 C$ G
ulation, and rare activating mutations.3 Virilizing
3 ]7 F( S3 W5 f1 T0 Q9 J# Y8 d0 Tcongenital adrenal hyperplasia producing excessive) \! H! m& V/ A5 W$ k. h+ l/ e
adrenal androgens is a common cause of precocious
# ?; `3 U, E0 ^7 K& a- f# spuberty in boys.3,4) W8 p5 h/ j) H$ ^! R: A
The most common form of congenital adrenal5 T) l8 g% k8 d4 u6 l
hyperplasia is the 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.$ c! i+ X% I* A5 ?0 i3 a# w
The 11-β hydroxylase deficiency may also result in
2 @0 D, f+ W* n! s! U! gexcessive adrenal androgen production, and rarely,9 E; n4 k" q! D. V
an adrenal tumor may also cause adrenal androgen
! t3 K% D+ |2 ~5 M& mexcess.1,3
$ k$ {$ @! a! V* \% Xat University of Manchester Library on May 25, 2015 cpj.sagepub.com Downloaded from
; K5 \* B3 R; ?4 Y0 h$ y$ {% n542 Clinical Pediatrics / Vol. 46, No. 6, July 2007& c' I, R- D& W% A+ T
A unique entity of male-limited gonadotropin-: F7 }/ }! r: d) T: _
independent precocious puberty, which is also known
5 _2 m6 u# Y( w# q8 Cas testotoxicosis, may cause precocious puberty at a
$ s4 f" O B" v7 T" dvery young age. The physical findings in these boys$ i9 z9 _) x/ E+ z, U
with this disorder are full pubertal development,
: {( w9 c% b$ g9 y* A6 T( D4 ]1 S0 ~including bilateral testicular growth, similar to boys' w# b8 ]) p( x+ Y0 ]
with CPP. The gonadotropin levels in this disorder
& L1 [! ]7 p- M* t' Z8 xare suppressed to prepubertal levels and do not show
- B$ Z4 g# K" [8 t+ ppubertal response of gonadotropin after gonadotropin-
- G% U) h8 @# S! d9 i( S. e& nreleasing hormone stimulation. This is a sex-linked% O, }3 Q- i! L5 v8 a% Q5 F1 A- H* g
autosomal dominant disorder that affects only
# z, S& i$ Y# V+ D9 { @males; therefore, other male members of the family
* V0 B' y1 A* n/ l& k& t3 \9 ^may have similar precocious puberty.3
$ A0 ^: d; l. f8 z& G7 y* JIn our patient, physical examination was incon-& R' s; x8 T8 Y U% R4 n' S1 w4 U
sistent with true precocious puberty since his testi-. T- a ?$ M) Q5 L6 C% R
cles were prepubertal in size. However, testotoxicosis
+ Y c, U1 n9 U% v+ v( w$ Kwas in the differential diagnosis because his father
' h6 G$ G: T% ~2 | G( Jstarted puberty somewhat early, and occasionally,
( u3 ^# W& t4 q' ?0 G+ Y1 }1 utesticular enlargement is not that evident in the! F6 h* R( G4 ~. |4 ]; [9 W8 R. _
beginning of this process.1 In the absence of a neg-
4 T; G* k8 E3 p- d7 { m9 G$ ]ative initial history of androgen exposure, our
8 k9 T+ h. X0 b% Y0 ?" jbiggest concern was virilizing adrenal hyperplasia,3 g! d r( E1 e
either 21-hydroxylase deficiency or 11-β hydroxylase
/ @" W0 r8 m5 F: ?. S/ K+ C2 T# Ldeficiency. Those diagnoses were excluded by find-
# H. l& p) _# }! N! s! wing the normal level of adrenal steroids.
1 Z5 ]) w" v) L% y. |3 }4 CThe diagnosis of exogenous androgens was strongly
) Z# E, ^5 k$ ~& ^- a/ |suspected in a follow-up visit after 4 months because
7 E. O1 W# e0 s1 Ethe physical examination revealed the complete disap-; P+ O# L" g* I6 L7 X4 Q
pearance of pubic hair, normal growth velocity, and( c) u; e2 g; F4 E3 T
decreased erections. The father admitted using a testos-
' w b9 R% v( Aterone gel, which he concealed at first visit. He was
f" K; ?, ~* I6 p* tusing it rather frequently, twice a day. The Physicians’0 s/ D8 F' @' O! `2 s" I
Desk Reference, or package insert of this product, gel or+ M' T, @2 ~, r/ t7 p. L9 n# w2 W
cream, cautions about dermal testosterone transfer to
( Y5 }2 b) _+ \: w4 {+ iunprotected females through direct skin exposure.
8 p9 |$ g. Y- s2 W. {& lSerum testosterone level was found to be 2 times the
6 [9 j% t; {: {! ybaseline value in those females who were exposed to
& N5 O/ C7 A9 Q+ s! s9 H! peven 15 minutes of direct skin contact with their male- H* R. D$ A+ x
partners.6 However, when a shirt covered the applica-
}4 C F5 }: B; C5 g# ytion site, this testosterone transfer was prevented.
* I: q+ N$ d1 OOur patient’s testosterone level was 60 ng/mL,
1 F+ @9 X3 e- z) ^which was clearly high. Some studies suggest that
2 |- s. I8 F( T @ {2 }dermal conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestos-: b' P. {2 H$ G& c+ Z
terone, which is a more potent metabolite, is more
- Y& i; x+ Y% w& [& v( Nactive in young children exposed to testosterone
9 B; Y0 O& ?+ L) E: i8 I cexogenously7; however, we did not measure a dihy-4 e9 z( i% D; i- _
drotestosterone level in our patient. In addition to
# Y1 J3 ~9 |) J0 Dvirilization, exposure to exogenous testosterone in
' }& i1 P U' ]. }! Schildren results in an increase in growth velocity and
, J# U! f0 Q) B- t, q0 i7 \% [" iadvanced bone age, as seen in our patient.
( \) c* G4 {+ Q* } p; k7 d$ ?2 `The long-term effect of androgen exposure during% x, F9 f5 J; C5 j- e
early childhood on pubertal development and final
2 v l% N i: T7 z* c( S8 u: [adult height are not fully known and always remain3 V* `* e/ {3 }% r) a4 M
a concern. Children treated with short-term testos-2 B) E! _0 U* Y
terone injection or topical androgen may exhibit some3 }$ n% }3 h( O8 E. v& d3 E5 D
acceleration of the skeletal maturation; however, after
; v V/ w1 }5 U) c) ]" @! Fcessation of treatment, the rate of bone maturation' i+ M, x. q+ j" Q2 c; [
decelerates and gradually returns to normal.8,97 Z3 m9 b% u* K/ }- y8 z! k
There are conflicting reports and controversy
8 J; u6 ?* a4 O2 X9 oover the effect of early androgen exposure on adult* e3 F, k' d/ [: k0 u( W
penile length.10,11 Some reports suggest subnormal
; i4 [& ]* }1 M- `adult penile length, apparently because of downreg-& ]$ ]. \+ D5 `- ]9 r, @
ulation of androgen receptor number.10,12 However,
4 c! j/ H* s/ X' l1 ~ I6 t7 MSutherland et al13 did not find a correlation between, ~) f5 Q2 D9 f) R8 V
childhood testosterone exposure and reduced adult. y, U$ i' ?) R- @0 A1 ~
penile length in clinical studies.* s/ [- Y. Q0 c' ~* n7 l6 S, {/ r/ V
Nonetheless, we do not believe our patient is; k" i$ t" F3 K/ e: F
going to experience any of the untoward effects from- g) J( [3 d, O! Z' I+ f1 g( U
testosterone exposure as mentioned earlier because9 M! b) W1 G# y& l! }( B
the exposure was not for a prolonged period of time.
$ c! J9 a3 u# |& K3 j1 E- X% rAlthough the bone age was advanced at the time of& u7 q6 O4 Y$ x" m- k4 D1 ]
diagnosis, the child had a normal growth velocity at) h# z$ ^8 N( |( b; W
the follow-up visit. It is hoped that his final adult, Z- c* f6 M0 d, p
height will not be affected.; K9 L) `$ C2 s2 l3 Q
Although rarely reported, the widespread avail-
/ t; V7 i7 ~, K1 x4 u. Tability of androgen products in our society may0 e& v, K% ?! I K4 r* C
indeed cause more virilization in male or female
( L+ C: S- _- B4 F; F* }4 g" Lchildren than one would realize. Exposure to andro-
, I# f( l/ |$ p% @; b* e& j3 mgen products must be considered and specific ques-, s: |$ j5 ]; p. [! R" s
tioning about the use of a testosterone product or
( g, k i+ u8 S/ G I9 K2 ^1 F; {gel should be asked of the family members during
1 S, f) S- g" b" bthe evaluation of any children who present with vir-
. d4 |6 W G( m% Lilization or peripheral precocious puberty. The diag-
7 Z. W( G E# O3 M7 Onosis can be established by just a few tests and by6 W2 B+ ^, K2 n- m
appropriate history. The inability to obtain such a
# U5 S9 M1 o3 r/ b9 @) _1 zhistory, or failure to ask the specific questions, may) R3 f3 ]1 F" p. A; ~. G
result in extensive, unnecessary, and expensive' f2 H) k3 }3 ]4 u
investigation. The primary care physician should be
/ l, ^1 s& z& V! N9 E; e% Kaware of this fact, because most of these children
& T3 D8 U \: K8 Z! Wmay initially present in their practice. The Physicians’
$ h$ U- r, C$ ~Desk Reference and package insert should also put a5 y& ^* \' b7 ^' O
warning about the virilizing effect on a male or f9 O) l4 ~. G- A- G9 k
female child who might come in contact with some-' c7 d) e: j3 G( U
one using any of these products.$ j, h! ]- z' O! C' R
References
- x8 w! `- a( m) j0 {: [1. Styne DM. The testes: disorder of sexual differentiation
1 ]; r0 s4 g8 b8 B7 L* |3 mand puberty in the male. In: Sperling MA, ed. Pediatric4 k1 o& X; O# M* Z O7 a
Endocrinology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders;/ e3 i: h5 |. q- V
2002: 565-628.2 B$ N' J; ?, n
2. Rivarola M, Belgorosky A, Mendilaharzu H, et al. Precocious$ l, Z0 H! [& R1 \" `" h+ `4 j
puberty in children with tumours of the suprasellar pineal |
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