Endocrinologic problems of the male adolescent
Reina, C.; Basso, S.; Perino, A.; Guarneri, M.P.; Russo, G.; Brunelli, V.; Chiumello, G.
La Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica Medical and Surgical Pediatrics 18(5 Suppl): 9-13
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-5387 PMID: 9045225 Document Number: 466112
The male adolescent may present several endocrinological problems, the most frequent of which is the retardation or absence of puberty due to constitutional delay of growth and development. This form does not require therapy and must be distinguished from other forms of hypogonadism (primitive or secondary) by endocrine tests (LHRH test, nightly pulses LH secretion, plasmatic basal level of testosterone and after HCG, cerebral NMR). Hypogonadism treatment consists of replacement therapy with testosterone or testes stimulation with HCG or LHRH. Another frequent disease is gynecomastia, usually due to physiological enlargement of mammary gland during pubertal development, sometimes it may be secondary to hypogonadism, tumors, liver function abnormalities. Severe or psychologically disturbing gynecomastia can be corrected by reductive mammoplasty. Very often, adolescents may present diseases related to incorrect food habits. Obesity is common and anorexia is becoming an important problem also in males.