title: Gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty in an 8-year-old boy with leydig cell testicular tumor.
abstract: Leydig cell testicular tumors are very rare in children. They can present as gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty due to excess androgen secretion. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with isosexual precocity whose hormonal investigation showed luteinizing hormone-independent testosterone hypersecretion. Although no palpable mass was present, scrotal ultrasound revealed a testicular tumor. Testis-sparing tumor resection was performed and the histopathology analysis showed a Leydig cell tumor. After surgery the testosterone levels remained high and further examination showed gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, which is believed to be likely caused by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis due to a long-term exposition to sex steroids. He is currently being treated with a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog and the process of sexual precocity has until now been suppressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonito-Vítor
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontoura
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone