A rare case of central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartoma diagnosed in utero.

OBJECTIVE

To report a rare case of central precocious puberty attributable to hypothalamic hamartoma that was diagnosed in utero.

METHODS

We present the clinical, laboratory, and imaging data pertaining to our case and discuss the diagnostic features and recommended treatment of central precocious puberty in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma.

RESULTS

A 3-month-old male child had had excessively rapid growth velocity and weight gain since birth. On investigation, the patient was diagnosed as having hypothalamic hamartoma with central precocious puberty. On inquiry, his mother described a history of prenatal ultrasonography and fetal magnetic resonance imaging suggesting the presence of a cystic lesion in his brain at 9 months of gestation. Because of continued rapid growth and acceleration of puberty during a 4-month observation period, we decided to treat the patient with leuprolide acetate. The patient responded well to treatment, with stabilization of growth.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this patient is the youngest in the medical literature diagnosed to have central precocious puberty and also to receive treatment with leuprolide acetate.