Disorders of sex development (DSD): not only babies with ambiguous genitalia. A practical guide for surgeons.

INTRODUCTION AND

METHODS

In this review, we describe the common clinical scenarios that may be present to a paediatric surgeon when a patient has a disorder of sex development (DSD). Our aim was to prepare surgeons so that they can respond with correct approaches to diagnose and manage the given situations.

RESULTS

DSD present in three distinct clinical situations: in the neonate with some abnormality of the external genitalia; in the child undergoing surgical treatment for inguinal hernia or during open or laparoscopic orchidopexy or during hypospadias correction; and at or after puberty, which may be precocious or delayed or in an adolescent girl with masculinisation at puberty. We describe the clinical features, likely diagnoses and the recommended management pathway in these scenarios.