title: The investigation of children and adolescents with abnormalities of pubertal timing.
abstract: Concerns with pubertal development are common and can cause considerable distress to patients and their carers. Many presentations reflect normal variations of pubertal timing and primarily require reassurance, although patients may opt for interventions. Other presentations need active management to avoid significant adverse effects on growth and psychosocial development. All should undergo careful assessment, particularly as some children or adolescents presenting with abnormalities in pubertal timing may have serious pathology which requires urgent investigations and treatment. This review describes the appropriate investigations and their interpretation for young people presenting with disorders in pubertal timing.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, University Hospital Southampton, NHS Foundation Trust, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Women's Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honour
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crowne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Puberty; adrenarche; constitutional delay in growth and puberty; delayed puberty; hypogonadism; precocious puberty; thelarche