Hypothalamic hamartoma with precocious puberty

Hypothalamic hamartoma is a rare congenital nonneoplastic heterotopia consisting of neurons, glial cells and fiber bundles. Clinically, most patients with hypothalamic hamartomas present with precocious puberty and/or gelastic epilepsy. We report an interesting case of hypothalamic hamartoma causing precocious puberty in a young male. The lesion was excised totally through frontotemporal craniotomy and transSylvian approach without any added morbidity.     

Undulating course of precocious puberty]

The normal course of precocious puberty is progredient resulting eventually in full sexual maturation. In few cases a transient form of the disease has been recorded, characterized by a temporary appearance of signs of sexual maturation. We report on a female patient with an undulating course of the disorder: after precocious initiation of puberty, a temporary interruption and subsequent resumption of sexual maturation occurred. Presently, the patient is successfully treated with an LHRH-analogon. Within the framework of this case problems in diagnosis and treatment of precocious puberty are being discussed.     

Central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartoma in a 7-month-old infant girl

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are rare congenital lesions of the tuber cinereum presenting with the classic triad of gelastic epilepsy, central precocious puberty (CPP) and developmental delay. In light of the important and diverse consequences of precocious puberty for affected children and their families, a correct diagnosis without delay is imperative. We present here a rare case of a 7-month-old infant girl with CPP and HH who was successfully treated with depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue.     

True precocious puberty of a girl with hamartoma of the CNS successfully treated by operation

A girl with precocious puberty due to a hypothalamic hamartoma is presented. At the age of 0.41 years vaginal bleeding was documented and signs of puberty were noted: PHIII, BII according to Tanner. The bone age was 1.3 years, and height velocity rose from the 50th to 90th percentile. Plasma concentrations of LH (5.85 mU/ml), FSH (3.29 mU/ml), growth hormone (30 ng/ml), and oestradiol (90 pg/ml) were elevated. The results of a neurological examination including an EEC recording as well as a skull roentgenogram, were unremarkable. The visual evoked potentials were grossly abnormal. A native and contrast CT scan visualized a tumour close to the suprasellar cisterna reaching the chiasma opticum.At the age of 1.2 years the tumours was removed. Histologically the tissue was identified as a hamartoma. Immediately after the operation vaginal bleeding ceased, pubertal development regressed, bone age did not advance any further, the visual evoked potentials normalized and the contrast CT did not show any tumour mass. The levels of LH, FSH, growth hormone and oestradiol 4 months post operation were decreased as follow: LH: 1.14 mU/ml, FSH: 0.70 mU/ml, GH: 15.1 ng/ml, oestradiol: 10 pg/ml. However, there was an increase of FSH (3 mU/ml) 1 year after the operation. No secondary sexual characters reappeared.     

Central precocious puberty in girls: prediction of the etiology]

Precocious puberty (PP) is defined in girls by the occurrence of pubertal development before the age of 8. This development raises 3 questions: 1) Is it abnormal puberty or variant of the normal? 2) If abnormal puberty, is it of central, hypothalamic-pituitary, or peripheral, ovarian or adrenal origin? 3) If central, is it idiopathic or due to a lesion, and is there indication to treat it? The PP in a girl with no previous medical history is usually of central and idiopathic origin. However, isolated central PP may reveal a CNS lesion, particularly an optic glioma with its risk of blindness. Two independent predictors of CNS lesion are the age at PP onset of less than 6 years old, and increased plasma estradiol concentration. The selection of the girls for neuroradiological imaging should be based on these two parameters. However, neuroradiological imaging remains necessary until the prospective confirmation of their predictive value.     

Hypothalamic hamartoma as a cause of precocious puberty in neurofibromatosis type 1: patient report

Precocious puberty resulting from hypothalamic hamartoma is well known. Neurofibromatosis type 1 can also present with precocious puberty. However, hypothalamic hamartoma as the cause of precocious puberty in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 has never been described in the literature. This rare occurrence of these two together in a patient with precocious puberty is reported.     

Growth in precocious puberty

Growth in precocious puberty is a subject of concern to families and clinicians alike. The definition of precocious puberty and the role of obesity in the age of onset have also been areas of debate since the Lawson Wilkins Society recommended a lowering of the age of onset of precocious puberty in US girls. An understanding of growth patterns in normal children with earlier or later onset of puberty and the variable rate of progression between individuals with central precocious puberty as well as the imprecision in available height prediction methods are important in assessing height outcomes in this condition. In the absence of randomised controlled trials in this area, only qualified conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions can be drawn. In general, it appears that height outcome is not compromised in untreated slowly progressive variants of central precocious puberty. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty in girls, gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists) appear to increase final height by about 5cm in girls treated before the age of eight, but there is no height benefit in those treated after eight years. Scanly data is available to assess treatment effects in boys. GnRH agonists appear to be relatively safe. The decision to treat central precocious puberty should take into account rate of progression of pubertal changes as well as biochemical markers and may need to address other factors (for example psychosocial and behavioural issues) as well as height outcome.     

Ovarian cysts in precocious puberty

We describe a 7-year-old girl with precocious puberty in whom a single large cyst (5 cm) and several small cysts (8-10 mm) in the single remaining ovary were detected by the ultrasound examination. Endocrinological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of central precocious puberty. Pathologic findings after the removal of the cystic lesions revealed that the large cyst was derived from degenerated follicular cysts and the small cysts were identical to follicular cysts: all were considered to have been formed by gonadotropin stimulation. In general, surgical removal of an ovarian follicular cyst in central precocious puberty is inappropriate. However, in this unusual patient who had a degenerated large cyst, surgery seemed to be appropriate because of a previously removed teratoma in the contralateral ovary.     

Body proportions in precocious puberty

Sitting height (SH) and sub-ischial leg length (SLL) were measured in 10 boys and 16 girls with precocious puberty; the patients were aged from 1.5 to 13.4 years at the time. Standard deviation scores (SDS) calculated for chronological age and bone age showed higher scores for SH than for SLL in all but two patients, both girls: the differences between the SDS for SH and SLL were more marked in the boys. The findings indicate that growth of the trunk is usually greater than growth of the legs in precocious puberty, particularly in boys.     

Hypothalamic hamartomas and precocious puberty

Ten children, five boys and five girls with true precocious puberty at an early age were found to have hypothalamic hamartomas on brain imaging. Very early onset of puberty, varying from a few weeks to three years of age, and rapid progression were characteristic. Accelerated growth velocity and markedly advanced bone age were evident in all. Gonadotropin and gonadal hormone levels were elevated above the prepubertal range. Six children had associated developmental delay or hyperactivity.