Pseudoprecocity in an Infant Due to a Luteoma of the Ovary.

Ovarian tumours are rare in children and account for approximately 1% of all the tumours of childhood (Schultz, 1926). The majority are benign, the commonest being cystic teratoma. Tumours causing sexual precocity and pseudoprecocity are particularly rare; Wilkins (1957), in a long experience of paediatric endocrinology, personally encountered only one case. The ovarian tumour most often responsible for sexual precocity and pseudoprecocity is the granulosa cell tumour. In a recent paper, Eberlein, Bongiovanni, Jones and Yakovac (1960) report two further examples of this tumour and review the world literature; they could find reports of approximately 60 definite cases, and 30 probable cases, of granulosa cell tumours causing sexual precocity. There are very few reports of thecomas and luteomas producing this syndrome. The purpose of this short communication is to place on record a case of pseudoprecocious puberty due to a luteoma of the ovary.