CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY FOLLOWING DIENCEPHALIC SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT

The diencephalic syndrome (DS) is one of the rare causes of failure to thrive (FTT) in pediatric age group. It is manifested by progressive emaciation in an apparently alert and cheerful young child. This syndrome is almost exclusively seen in infants and young children and most patients have a space-occupying lesion of the hypothalamic region. We present a case of DS, a 3-year-old boy who was initially admitted to our hospital because of severe FTT that began at the age of 4 months. Computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large tumor occupying the hypothalamic region. After surgical removal of the tumor, radiotherapy with 5,000 rads of linear accelerator (LINAC) was directed at the tumor site. He was readmitted at the age of 5 with signs of precocious puberty. The interesting point with this case was that central precocious puberty was associated with diencephalic syndrome.