Peripheral Precocious Puberty due to Functioning Adrenocortical Tumor: Description of Two Cases.

BACKGROUND

Adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) represent less than 0.2% of all childhood neoplasms. Frequent clinical manifestations are virilization, hypercortisolism, and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP).

CASES

We describe two cases in which ACTs were responsible for virilization (case 1) and PPP (case 2) in prepubertal girls. In both cases an ACT diagnosis was made after 5-6 months from the first appearance of clinical signs. Surgery was performed within 1 month of diagnosis, and the benign nature of tumors was histologically confirmed. Despite complete tumor resection, virilizing features persisted.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Adrenocortical tumors should be considered early in the assessment of PPP. There is often a significant delay between the onset of symptoms and accurate diagnosis but early treatment is essential to limit the clinical manifestations of androgen overproduction.