SEXUAL PRECOCITY DUE TO AN INTRACRANIAL TUMOUR CAUSING UNUSUAL TESTICULAR SECRETION OF TESTOSTERONE

A case of sexual precocity in a 7-year-old boy is described. His peak growth rate was 26 cm. per year. The appearances of secondary sexual characteristics and bone maturation were also excessively rapid. The testes remained at a size appropriate to his age, but the interstitial cells were very hyperplastic. There was evidence of near adult testosterone secretion; plasma testosterone was 243 mμg./100 ml. and the production rate was 4.7 mg./24 hrs. Spermatogenesis was only slightly accelerated. Excretion of total gonadotropic activity was up to 1500 mg. 1st IRP/HMG/24 hrs., and of luteinizing activity up to 4400 i.u. LH/24 hrs. Follicle-stimulating activity excretion in the urine was only 12 i.u. FSH/24 hrs. Death was due to a large haemorrhage into a tumour in the pineal region which was considered to be a chorion-carcinoma. The tumour contained activity equivalent to 1200 i.u. of luteinizing hormone and 1.2 i.u. of FSH/g. dry weight.