[Beta-hCG-producing thymic teratoma: an uncommon cause of peripheral precocious puberty]. / Teratoma tímico productor de Β-HCG: una causa infrecuente de pubertad precoz periférica.

INTRODUCTION: Among the causes of peripheral precocious puberty in men are the beta-human cho rionic gonadotropin (Β-HCG)-secreting tumors, such as hepatoblastomas, dysgerminomas, chorio carcinomas, and immature teratomas. In pediatrics, the mediastinal teratomas are rare, representing the 7-10% of extragonadal teratomas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of a patient with peripheral precocious puberty due to a Β-HCG -secreting thymic teratoma. CLINICAL CASE: A seven-years-old schoolboy presents a three-months history of voice changes, gynecomastia, pubic hair appearance, and increased genital volume. In the exams, bone age of nine years, total testosterone 9.33ng/ml (< 0.4ng/ml), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and normal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) test stand out; luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with low basal levels, Β-HCG 39.5mU/ml (< 2.5 mUI/ml), alpha feto protein (α-FP) 11,2ng/ml (0.6-2.0 ng/ml). Imaging study to determine the origin of Β-HCG secretion shows normal testicular ultrasound and thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic computerized axial tomo graphy (CAT); brain and sellar resonance without significant findings. The positron emission tomography/computed scan (PET SCAN) shows a tumor image in the anterosuperior mediastinum. The tumor is resected, and the biopsy shows an immature cystic teratoma in the thymus. Post-operatory evolution was satisfactory, with normalization of hormonal levels. CONCLUSION: The appearance of a teratoma in a pediatric patient is rare, even more if it is immature, with thymic location and P-HCG- secretor. It is important to consider it within the differential diagnosis facing precocious puberty, as a better way to handle appropriately.

Teratoma tímico productor de beta-HCG: una causa infrecuente de pubertad precoz periférica / Beta-hCG-producing thymic teratoma: an uncommon cause of peripheral precocious puberty

INTRODUCCIÓN: Entre las causas de pubertad precoz periférica en el varón están los tumores secretores de betagonadotrofina coriónica humana (Β-HCG), como hepatoblastomas, disgerminomas, corio-carcinomas y teratomas inmaduros. En pediatría los teratomas mediastínicos son raros, representan el 7-10% de los teratomas extragonadales. OBJETIVO: Describir caso de un paciente que cursa con pubertad precoz periférica debida a teratoma tímico secretor de Β-HCG. CASO CLÍNICO: Escolar masculino de 7 años 10 meses consultó por cuadro de 3 meses de cambios de la voz, ginecomastia, aparición de vello pubiano y aumento de volumen genital. En exámenes destacaba edad ósea de 9 años, testosterona total 9,33ng/ml (< 0,4ng/ml), dehidroepiandrosterona sulfato (DHEAS), 17-hidroxi-progesterona (17-OH-P) y prueba de hormona adrenocorticotrofina (ACTH) normales, hormona luteinizante (LH) y hormona folículo estimulante (FSH) basales bajas, Β-HCG 39,5mU/ml (< 2,5 mUI/ml), alfa fetoproteína (α-FP) 11,2ng/ml (0,6-2,0 ng/ml). Estudio de imágenes para determinar origen de secreción de Β-HCG incluye: ecografía testicular y tomografla axial computarizada (TAC) torácica, abdominal y pelviana normales; resonancia cerebral y selar sin hallazgos significativos. Tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computada (PET SCAN) evidenció imagen de tumor en mediastino antero-superior. Se resecó el tumor, cuya biopsia evidenció teratoma quístico inmaduro en timo. Evolución postoperatoria fue satisfactoria, con normalización de niveles hormonales. CONCLUSIÓN: La presentación de un teratoma en paciente pediátrico es infrecuente, aún más, si es inmaduro, su localización es tímica y es secretor de Β-HCG. Es relevante considerarlo dentro de diagnósticos diferenciales frente a pubertad precoz, de modo que pueda efectuarse un manejo oportuno.

INTRODUCTION: Among the causes of peripheral precocious puberty in men are the beta- human cho rionic gonadotropin (Β-HCG)-secreting tumors, such as hepatoblastomas, dysgerminomas, chorio carcinomas, and immature teratomas. In pediatrics, the mediastinal teratomas are rare, representing the 7-10% of extragonadal teratomas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of a patient with peripheral precocious puberty due to a Β-HCG -secreting thymic teratoma. CLINICAL CASE: A seven-years-old schoolboy presents a three-months history of voice changes, gynecomastia, pubic hair appearance, and increased genital volume. In the exams, bone age of nine years, total testosterone 9.33ng/ml (< 0.4ng/ml), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and normal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) test stand out; luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with low basal levels, P-HCG 39.5mU/ml (< 2.5 mUI/ml), alpha feto protein (Α-FP) 11,2ng/ml (0.6-2.0 ng/ml). Imaging study to determine the origin of P-HCG secretion shows normal testicular ultrasound and thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic computerized axial tomo graphy (CAT); brain and sellar resonance without significant findings. The positron emission tomography/computed scan (PET SCAN) shows a tumor image in the anterosuperior mediastinum. The tumor is resected, and the biopsy shows an immature cystic teratoma in the thymus. Post-operatory evolution was satisfactory, with normalization of hormonal levels. CONCLUSION: The appearance of a teratoma in a pediatric patient is rare, even more if it is immature, with thymic location and Β-HCG- secretor. It is important to consider it within the differential diagnosis facing precocious puberty, as a better way to handle appropriately.

Hiperparatiroidismo primario en adolescente. Reporte de caso / Primary hyperparathyroidism in adolescent. Case report

INTRODUCTION: The hypercalcemia is infrequent in pediatrics, its clinical is diverse, and its etiology is determined by age. Among the dependent causes of parathormone (PHT) is the hyperthyroidism, state of hypersecretion of PHT by parathyroid glands (PG). The primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is rare in children, there are 200 reported cases. In older children, the causes for PHPT correspond to parathyroid adenoma, multiglandular disease and parathyroid carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: Report a case of an 11 years old male adolescent. He presents three months symptoms of constipation, anorexia, vomiting and weight loss. Urgent consultation due to an increase of his symptoms, in exams stand out: calcemia 16.67 mg/dl (NV 8.8-10.8 mg/dl), phosphatemia 2.21 mg/dl (NV 4.5-5.5 mg/dl), parathormone (PHT) 308.7 pg/ml (NV 15-68.3 pg/ml), calciuria/creatininuria 0.56 (NV < 0.2). He was hospitalized to manage his severe hypercalcemia, it was indicated hyperhydration, monopotassium phosphate, intravenous hydrocortisone and furosemide. In his study was performed a cervical ultrasound which showed a solid node in the right parathyroid gland, hypoechogenic and scintigram parathyroid compatible with right superior parathyroid adenoma. In the waiting for surgery was necessary the administration of intravenous pamidronate. In the post-operatory, he evolved with hipocalcemia that was corrected with intravenous calcium carbonate, overlapping to oral calcium and calcitriol. CONCLUSION: The PHPT is a pathology of low prevalence in pediatrics, one hundred times less than adults. In the adolescent, the most frequent cause is the parathyroid adenoma. It should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of symptomatic hypercalcemia in this age group

Sensibilidad diagnóstica de los distintos tiempos de la prueba de estímulo con clonidina, indicada para descartar deficiencia de hormona de crecimiento en niños con talla baja / Timing of growth hormone peaks during the clonidine provocation test

Background: Clonidine provocative test is used for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency. The duration of the test is not uniform across places where it is performed. Aim: To evaluate the frequency and timing of GH peaks during the clonidine test. To determine the timing with the highest diagnostic yield for GH deficiency. Patients and Methods: Analysis of the GH response during a clonidine test performed to 93 children with low stature, aged 11 +/- 3 years (41 percent women), with mean z scores of -2.3 +/- 0.8 for height and of 0.4 +/- 0.9 for body mass index, that were consecutively studied. A oral dose of 0.15 mg/m2 of clonidine was administered and GH levels were determined by the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay method of solid phase at 0, +30, +60, +90 and +120 minutes after. The cut-off point for GH deficiency was set at 7 ng/dL. Results: In ten children GH levels were lower than 7 ng/dL during the test and were considered as having GH deficiency. In 86 percent of the 83 patients without GH deficiency, the peak over 7 ng/mL appeared at +60 minutes and in 89 percent the peak had appeared at +90 minutes. In only 11 percent of these children, the peak appeared at +120 minutes. Conclusions: The timing with the highest diagnostic yield for GH is +60 minutes after the administration of clonidine. However the sample at +120 minutes should not be eliminated, considering that the highest GH peak appears at that time in 11 percent of children.

Cáncer medular de tiroides esporádico de curso agresivo, en un adolescente varón / Madullary thyroid cancer in a 14 years old male: case report

Medullary thyroid cancer can appear sporadically or as part of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A or 2B. In both conditions, it is associated with mutations of proto oncogene RET (rearranged during transfection). We report a 14 years old male presenting with a bone lesion in the skull followed by a hard cevical mass. A CAT scan showed an invasive thyroid nodule with involvement of regional lymph nodes , osteolytic lesions in skull, spine and ribs and liver metastases. Serum calcitonin was markedly elevated (9752 pg/ml, normal below 14 pg/ml). Fine needle biopsy showed a medullary thyroid carcinoma and the patient was subjected to a total thyroidectomy and radical cervical dissection. In the postoperative period the patient required calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Serum calcitonin 15 days after surgery was 11.692 pg/ml. Palliative radiotherapy was indicated for spine pain. A percutaneous gastrostomy was indication for nutritional support. The molecular study did not detect mutations of RET gene between exons 10 and 16.

Tumor testicular por restos suprarrenales en un adolescente con hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita clásica: revisión de su fiopatología e implicancias en fertilidad / Testicular adrenal rest tumors in a teenager with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia: report of one case

Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumors (TART) may play a role in fertility disturbances of patients with Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). We report a 17 years old male with classical CAH, diagnosed in the newborn period due to a salt wasting crisis with dehydration and severe hyponatremia. He was treated with cortisol and fludrocortisone with a low adherence to therapy. He had a precocious puberty and accelerated bone age, and was treated with a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analog during two years. At the age of 14 years, bilateral testicular masses were detected during the physical examination. Testicular color Doppler ultrasound showed the presence of TART. A new ultrasound at 17 years of age showed the persistence of adrenal rests and an abnormal testicular growth.