CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY CAUSED BY A HYPOTHALAMIC HAMARTOMA IN AN 18-MONTH-OLD BOY: A CASE REPORT

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is the result of premature activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Although CPP is relatively common in girls, its occurrence in boys below two years of age is of exceptional rarity. We report an 18-month-old male child presenting with penile enlargement, curly pubic hair, and accelerated growth, later diagnosed with CPP secondary to a hypothalamic hamartoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain confirmed a non-enhancing lesion attached to the tuber cinereum. The child was started on GnRH analogue therapy initially to prevent premature epiphyseal fusion. This rare case of interest highlights the importance of early recognition of the cause of CPP and early intervention in optimizing the growth and psychosocial outcomes.