Diagnostic Tests for Puberty symptoms
Diagnostic Test list for Puberty symptoms:
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Puberty symptoms
includes:
- Physical examination
- Height and weight centile measurements
- Examine the pubic hair, genitals and breasts to assess the stage of puberty. The Tanner Staging system of pubertal development is based on breast, genital and pubic hair changes, with stage 1 being pre-pubertal and stage 5 the adult developmental stage. As well as indicating the biological stage of development, the Tanner stages correlate with special events and thus is useful in clinical assessment. E.g. first menstrual period in females is a late event in Tanner stage 4 and is usually preceded by at least 2 years of breast development. Height velocity reaches its peak in boys Tanner stage 4 and in girls in Tanner stage 2 or 3
- Examine for papilledema and nervous system signs that may suggest a brain tumor; unilateral pigmentation that may suggest McCune-Albright syndrome; a testicular mass that may suggest Leydig cell tumor or hyperplasia; an adnexal (ovarian) mass that may suggest a granulosa cell tumor or arrhenoblastoma. All of the above conditions may cause early puberty
- Examine for signs of Cushing's syndrome? - e.g. thin skin, bruising, high blood pressure, stretch marks, proximal muscle weakness, acne, pigmentation, excess hair on face, frontal balding in males, moon face, buffalo hump, truncal obesity, fluid retention. Cushing's syndrome may cause early puberty.
- Blood tests
- If delayed puberty, perform FSH, LH, testosterone, oestradiol, prolactin, growth hormone, FBC, ESR, urea, Creatinine, serum proteins, thyroid function tests, chromosome testing
- If precocious puberty, perform FSH, LH, oestradiol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone
- 17- hydroxyprogesterone and ACTH levels are increased in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (causes precocious puberty)
- If suspect Cushing's syndrome test electrolytes (looking for low potassium in Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal tumors); blood sugar (Impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes are common with Cushing's syndrome); and a long Dexamethasone suppression test (diagnoses Cushing's syndrome and can differentiate pituitary from adrenal cause of Cushing's syndrome
- Urine tests
- 24 hour urinary FSH and LH (if precocious puberty)
- Urine analysis - glucose present in Cushing's syndrome.
- 24 hour Urinary free cortisol measurement to help diagnose Cushing's syndrome which can cause
- Radiological investigations
- Bone age studies, if problems with growth and development
- CT or MRI brain scan, if precocious puberty and serum FSH, LH are increased; may detect brain tumor
- CT Abdomen and pelvis - may identify adrenal mass (adrenocortical hyperplasia or adrenal tumor) or ovarian tumor (granulosa cell tumor or arrhenoblastoma).
- Ultrasound of testicles may identify testicular tumor
- Chest X-Ray and/or Ct scan may detect a lung cancer that rarely may produce ACTH hormone that can cause Cushing's syndrome
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Puberty symptoms causes:
Conditions listing medical symptoms: Puberty symptoms:
The following list of conditions
have 'Puberty symptoms' or similar
listed as a symptom in our database.
This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause
of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which
include a symptom of Puberty symptoms or choose View All.
Conditions listing medical complications: Puberty symptoms:
The following list of medical conditions have 'Puberty symptoms'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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