Transcript Newborn girls with adrenal virilism have external sex organs that

By Stephany Sosa & Brigitte Gomez
Ms. Miller
p. 2 & 3
Practicum I
What is Virilism?
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Virilism is the development or premature
development of male secondary sexual
characteristics caused by male sex
hormones (androgens) excessively
produced by the adrenal gland.
Causes
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In infants and children, this disease is usually
the result of adrenal gland enlargement that
can be seen at birth, which is called
congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
The cause is usually a genetic problem that
leads to severe enzyme deficiencies. In rare
cases, adrenal virilism is caused by an
adrenal gland tumor.
Causes Cont.
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The tumor can be harmless or possibly
cancerous.
Sometimes in women, virilism can be caused
by a tumor in the woman's ovary
Signs & Symptoms (Girls)
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Newborn girls with adrenal virilism have
external sex organs that seem to be a
mixture of male and female organs.
Signs & Symptoms (Boys)
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Newborn boys with the disorder have
enlarged external sex organs, and these
organs develop at an abnormally rapid
pace.
Signs & Symptoms Cont.
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Children with congenital adrenal
hyperplasia begin growing abnormally
fast, but they stop growing earlier than
normal. Later in childhood, children with
this disease are typically shorter than
normal kids.
What is CAH?
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Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: "is a
genetic disorder characterized by a
deficiency in the hormones cortisol and
aldosterone and an overproduction of the
hormone androgen, which is present at birth
and affects sexual development" as stated on
The Free Dictionary.com.
Signs & Symptoms Cont.
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Women with virilism may develop facial hair,
usually their menstrual cycles are occasional or
absent.
They may also develop a deeper voice, a more
noticeable Adam's apple, and other male
features.
Some women may even develop an enlarged
clitoris.
Test & Diagnosis
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To find out the regular diagnosis for
Virilism the patient is asked to get blood
samples drawn.
Once finished it is taken to the laboratory
where it is visualized and measured for
the concentration of different hormones
that are in the blood of the
body.
Tests & Diagnosis Cont.
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If diagnosed with this disease and a
tumor is found, special x-rays may be
done to visualize the tumor in the body.
The final diagnosis will depend on what
the tumor biopsy reveals about the tissue
of the mass.
Treatments & Medications
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Information about the tumor cell type and
the spread of the tumor is used to decide the
best kind of treatment for a particular
patient.
If the tumor is cancerous, the patient will
require special treatment depending on how
far the cancer has advanced.
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Treatments & Medications
Cont.
Treatment for cancerous tumors can include
surgery, medications used to kill cancer cells
which is called chemotherapy, and radiation
therapy.
Sometimes the doctor must remove the
adrenal gland and the surrounding tissues. If
the tumor is harmless, then surgically
removing the tumor may be the best option.
Treatments & Medications
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Medication for Adrenal virilism include daily
doses of a glucocorticoid, prednisone,
hydrocortisone is usually given to infants.
Laboratory tests are usually needed ever so
often to adjust the dosage. Sometimes it may
require surgery to make patient's external
sex organs appear more normal.
Emerging Trend
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There is no certain emerging trend on the
disease, Virilism.
Although, there are some cases that show
the new generation of children seem to be
developing a lot faster and sooner than past
generations, there is no exact conformation
that this is due to Virilism.
What does Virilism look
like?
Common Areas
Adam's
Apple
Pixar
Review Questions
1. Gloria turned 21 and began to notice that she was
developing an extreme baldness pattern and her
menstrual cycle is infrequent. Her mother mentioned
that her voice seemed to be getting deeper each day.
This symptoms indicated that she has what disease?
A. Hashimoto's disease
B. Virilism
C. Grave's disease
D. Turner Syndrome
Review Questions
2. Jessica has just given birth to a baby boy.
While she was changing his diaper she
noticed he had an enlarged external sex
organ. He was diagnosed with Virilism. What
other symptoms can occur with this disease?
A. Begins growing fast
B. Turns into a girl
C. Grow facial hair at a rapid rate
D. Has infrequent menstrual cycle
Review Questions
3. In the case of Virilism disease there is a
specific area in the body that causes this
disease. Where does it occur?
A. Intestines
B. Brain
C. Kidney
D. Adrenal Gland
Review Questions
4. Grace, a patient with Virilism, has an
enlarged tumor in her adrenal gland that can
possibly be cancerous. What treatment
should she take?
A. Antibiotics
B. Daily doses of glucocorticoid
C. Levothyroxine
D. Chemotherapy/Radiation
Review Questions
5. What age can Virilism be developed in
women?
A. At birth
B. Puberty
C. Later in life
D. Both A & C
Video
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This video just gives you background
information on the function of the adrenal
glands because it ties in with our disease.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGJRH48-UV4