1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 East 9th Avenue, Denver 20, Colorado
The findings in 16 cases of premature thelarche (precocious development of the breast) are described.
Of particular interest in this series of cases was the finding of estrogenic stimulation of desquamated cells in the urinary sediment in 15 of the 16 cases. Only 7 of 86 "control" patients demonstrated a similar hormonal effect of the urinary cytology.
The findings in most patients with premature thelarche of hormonal stimulation in at least two estrogen-responsive tissues of the body suggests that in the prepubertal period the breast enlargement may occur secondarily to a temporary increased excretion of estrogen by some mechanism as yet unknown.
Submitted on October 28, 1963