title: Precocious puberty following head injury. Case report.
abstract: A 6-year-old girl developed secondary sexual characteristics 5 months after severe closed head injury. Endocrinological tests confirmed a pubertal sexual condition; there was also diminution of serum melatonin and disruption of the diurnal pattern. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated focal hypothalamic injury; this is believed to be the first time such a posttraumatic lesion has been demonstrated by imaging techniques. The pathophysiology of this condition is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karacostas
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ellenbogen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brzezinski
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin