Precocious Puberty: a Red Flag for Malignancy in Childhood
CLINICAL Paul R. D’Alessandro, MD, MSc, Jillian Hamilton, MBChB, Karine Khatchadourian, MD, MSc, Ewa Lunaczek-Motyka, MD, Kirk R. Schultz, MD, Daniel Metzger, MD, Rebecca J. Deyell, MD, MHSc Precocious puberty: A red flag for malignancy in childhood Three clinical cases of precocious puberty resulting from rare but serious functional solid tumors in children highlight the need for physicians to identify the condition early and refer to tertiary care to minimize morbidity and optimize survival. ABSTRACT: Pediatric solid tumors have a range of 1-3 Dr D’Alessandro is a pediatric hematology/ abnormalities. These tumors may present clinical presentations, including those driven by oncology subspecialty resident in the with early onset of isosexual or contrasexual the ectopic production of hormones secreted by Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, puberty as a first symptom. Treatment may some malignancies. Functional tumors lead to a and Bone Marrow Transplant, Department involve surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radio- variety of presentations, including Cushing syn- of Pediatrics, University of British therapy. Genetic testing or counseling may be drome, growth acceleration, abnormal virilization Columbia, British Columbia Children’s indicated for families. Early identification mini- or feminization, and hypertension with electrolyte Hospital Research Institute. mizes disease-related morbidity and mortality abnormalities. Precocious puberty, the onset of Dr Hamilton is a general practice specialty and optimizes outcomes. We present illustrative secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in trainee, NHS Forth Valley, Larbert, cases of functional solid tumors in children from girls or 9 in boys, may be a warning sign of occult United Kingdom. Dr Khatchadourian is a British Columbia with the aim of educating malignancy.
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