SUN-LB16 Clitoromegaly in Premature Infants: Is It Truly Pathologic?

Abstract

Background: Normative data for clitoral size in premature infants are limited. Consequently, the potential for over-diagnosis is high; leading to unnecessary investigations, increased healthcare costs and parental stress. Several proposed mechanisms, e.g., persistence of fetal adrenal zone activity to term gestation, point to the transient physiologic nature of clitoromegaly in premature infants. Studies of normative data have shown a negative correlation between birth weight and clitoral size. We hypothesized that 1) the majority of clitoromegaly in premature infants is not associated with hormonal dysfunction and 2) lower birth weight and lower gestational age increase the likelihood of a formal consult in premature infants with perceived clitoromegaly. Methods: A retrospective chart review of female infants born at our institution from January 2012 to December 2018 with perceived clitoromegaly was conducted. Birth history, demographic and laboratory data were collected. Patients were divided into two groups: ‘formal consult’ and ‘no formal consult’ for clitoromegaly. True clitoromegaly was defined as clitoral length >9 mm or clitoral width >6 mm. Patients not meeting these criteria or those with clitoral edema, prominent clitoral hood were classified under false clitoromegaly. In the ‘no formal consult’ group, the documented discharge examination was used to assess persistence of clitoromegaly. Uni- and multi-variable logistic regression were used to determine factors that increased the likelihood of a formal consult. Results: 29 patients met inclusion criteria; 15 in the ‘formal consult’ group and 14 in the ‘no formal consult’ group. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of birth weight, gestational age, race, ethnicity and maternal factors. History of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) was more common in the ‘formal consult’ group (60%) vs. ‘no formal consult’ group (21%) (p=0.04). Only 3/15 patients in the ‘formal consult’ group had true clitoromegaly; all 3 had normal 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels, and only 1 patient had transient elevation in androgen levels (androstenedione, deoxycortisol and testosterone). Of the ‘no formal consult’ group, only 3/14 patients had clitoromegaly noted on discharge; outcome was unknown for 1. Multi-variable logistic regression showed that lower gestational age (p=0.04) and history of IUGR (p=0.03), even after adjusting for birth weight, increased the likelihood of a formal consult. Conclusion: In summary, the majority of perceived clitoromegaly in premature infants is not associated with hormonal dysfunction. Lower gestational age and a history of IUGR increase the likelihood of a formal consult for clitoromegaly in these patients. Approximately half of the patients were noted to have false clitoromegaly indicating inconsistencies in examination technique and need for provider education.