P52Ultrasonographic diagnosis of an approach to a case with intrauterine clitoromegaly

Abstract

IntroductionAdrenal androgens are one of the important determinants of sexual differentiation in fetal period. Increased circulating levels of adrenal androgens as seen in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, interact with genital skin androgen receptors and induce clitoral enlargement, fusion of labial folds and cause migration of the urethral‐vaginal perineal orifice resulting in ambiguous genitalia. We are reporting a female newborn with clitoromegaly from a nulliparous mother at term pregnancy.Case reportThe mother was followed up from 22 weeks of gestation with no signs of hyperandrogenism. Because of late application for antenatal follow up and since clitoromegaly was observed at 29 weeks of pregnancy, amniocentesis could not be done. During ultrasonographic evaluation at 29 weeks of gestation, clitoris with a size of 13 × 18 mm was detected and dexamethasone 1 × 0.5 mg orally was started to use. In reevaluation at 33 weeks of gestation clitoral size was measured as 4.8 × 6.8 mm and treatment was stopped. At 40 weeks of gestation a female neonate with 10–10 apgar scores, weighing 4040 g was delivered with caesarian section due to cephalopelvic disproportion. After delivery physical examination of the neonate revealed clitoral measurements consistent with clitoromegaly. Hyperandrogenic state of the case persists and evaluation of the newborn is going on in Pediatrics Clinic.DiscussionAlthough adrenal androgen secretion starts at 6–8 weeks of gestation and dexamethasone therapy was shown to be effective in regression of virilization if it was used as early as 6–8 weeks of gestation, our case was diagnosed later in the course of pregnancy. But when similar regimen was applied similar result was obtained. So we propose that patients with intrauterine virilization signs like clitoromegaly and ones with risk of congenital adrenal hyperplasia should take glucocorticoid therapy whenever it is determined in order to ameliorate genital ambiguity in female fetuses.