title: Absence of the clitoris in a 13-year-old adolescent: medical implications for child and adolescent health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated absence of the clitoris is a rare entity with medical and sexual implications for patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of an examination for alleged sexual abuse, a 13-year-old female was noted to have an apparent absence of the clitoris. Congenital absence of the clitoris was felt to be the most likely diagnosis. The differential diagnosis and medical implications are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated absence of the clitoris is a rare entity. When faced with the finding, a detailed medical evaluation should be performed to clarify the nature of the finding, rule out other potential anomalies and help in the counseling of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. steven.bellemare@iwk.nshealth.ca
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellemare
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dibden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D002987:Clitoris / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination