title: Pelvic ultrasonography in the evaluation of central precocious puberty: comparison with leuprolide stimulation test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ovarian and uterine structure demonstrated sonographically with baseline and leuprolide-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol values in females with suspected precocious puberty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review. Fifty females (age 3.1 to 9.5 years) underwent stimulation testing with leuprolide (20 μg/kg) and pelvic ultrasonography. Subjects were grouped as (1) prepubertal (baseline and stimulated LH and estradiol in prepubertal range); (2) early pubertal (baseline LH and estradiol in prepubertal range but stimulated LH or estradiol in pubertal range); and (3) pubertal (baseline and stimulated LH or estradiol in pubertal range). Sonographic data were compared with baseline and leuprolide-stimulated LH and estradiol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline and stimulated LH and stimulated estradiol significantly correlated with ovarian and uterine volumes. Ovarian and uterine volumes were significantly higher in females in the pubertal group than in females in the prepubertal group. No significant differences were noted in the ovarian or uterine dimensions between the prepubertal and early pubertal groups. There was significant overlap in ovarian and uterine volumes among females in all three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to leuprolide stimulation, pelvic ultrasonography alone cannot distinguish between prepubertal females and those in the early stages of puberty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Anpalakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sathasivam
authors.forename: Henrietta Kotlus
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapaport
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide