Approach to the Virilizing Girl at Puberty

Abstract

Virilization is the medical term for describing a female who develops characteristics associated with male hormones (androgens) at any age, or when a newborn girl shows signs of prenatal male hormone exposure at birth. In girls, androgen levels are low during pregnancy and childhood. A first physiologic rise of adrenal androgens is observed at the age of 6-8 years and reflects functional activation of the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex at adrenarche manifesting clinically with first pubic and axillary hairs. Early adrenarche is known as ‘premature adrenarche’. It is mostly idiopathic and of uncertain pathologic relevance but requires the exclusion of other causes of androgen excess (e.g. non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia) that might exacerbate clinically into virilization. The second modest physiologic increase of circulating androgens occurs then during pubertal development which reflects the activation of ovarian steroidogenesis contributing to the peripheral androgen pool. However, at puberty initiation (and beyond) ovarian steroidogenesis is normally devoted to estrogen production for the development of secondary female bodily characteristics (e.g. breast development). Serum total testosterone in a young adult woman is therefore about 10-20-fold lower than in a young man, while midcycle estradiol is about 10-20-fold higher. But if androgen production starts too early, progresses rapidly and in marked excess (usually more than 3-5 times above normal), females will manifest with signs of virilization such as masculine habitus, deepening of the voice, severe acne, excessive facial and (male typical) body hair, clitoromegaly and increased muscle development. Several medical conditions may cause virilization in girls and women including androgen-producing tumors of the ovaries or adrenal cortex, (non-)classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and, more rarely, other disorders (also referred to as differences) of sex development (DSD). The purpose of this article is to describe the clinical approach to the girl with virilization at puberty, focussing on diagnostic challenges. The review is written from the perspective of the case of an 11.5-year-old girl who was referred to our clinic for progressive, rapid onset clitoromegaly, and was then diagnosed with a complex genetic form of DSD that led to abnormal testosterone production from a dysgenetic gonad at onset of puberty. Her genetic workup revealed a unique translocation of an abnormal duplicated Y-chromosome to a deleted chromosome 9, including the Doublesex and Mab-3 Related Transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) gene.

Clitoromegaly due to an epidermal inclusion cyst: A case report

“…It is mandatory to ask about the use of exogenous androgens. In the present case, all the above-mentioned causes were ruled out [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Sex hormone influence on female-biased autoimmune diseases hints at puberty as an important factor in pathogenesis

“…In males, androgens remain in a low activated state before puberty and significantly shift to high activated state when it highly impacts the system physiologically ( 83 ). Androgen level is usually low before puberty in girls ( 84 ). In general, men have significantly greater levels of androgen than women.…”

Ovarian Hyperthecosis in a 12-year-old Chinese Girl Presenting With Virilization

“…Typical features of mild-to-moderate hyperandrogenism include hirsutism, acne, and oily skin. Virilization, which signifies severe hyperandrogenism, manifests as masculine habitus, androphonia, severe acne, and clitoromegaly [ 1 ]. Hyperandrogenism may be due to a high intake of exogenous androgens or androgen overproduction in the gonads or adrenal glands.…”