Unilateral pubic hair growth: a paracrine finding indicative of underlying leydig cell tumor in a prepubertal boy

Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) are rare in children and typically present with testicular masses and signs of early puberty. We report a case of a 6-year-old boy presenting solely with precocious pubic hair growth. Ultrasound revealed a small right testicular mass and elevated serum testosterone. Intra-o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gabriel van de Walle, Luca A. Morgantini, Bronwyn G. Long, Nicoleta C. Arva, Cristiana Hentea, Claudia C. Boucher Berry, Amanda Osta, Emilie K. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Urology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214442025001421
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Summary:Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) are rare in children and typically present with testicular masses and signs of early puberty. We report a case of a 6-year-old boy presenting solely with precocious pubic hair growth. Ultrasound revealed a small right testicular mass and elevated serum testosterone. Intra-operatively, hair growth was more prominent on the affected hemi-scrotum. Testis-sparing surgery confirmed a benign LCT with adjacent increased spermatogenesis. This is the first known report of ipsilateral pubic hair as a presenting sign of LCT. Localized androgen excess may be an early clinical indicator to guide timely diagnosis and treatment.
ISSN:2214-4420