Central Precocious Puberty in a 5-year-old Boy with Hypothalamic Hamartoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) occurs due to the precipitous production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and premature activation of the hypothalamic-gonadal axis. It is the most typical endocrine symptom of hypothalamic hamartoma. Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are rare, non-cancerous malformations of the central nervous system (CNS). They can show up as CPP related to the release of luteinizing hormone in addition to developmental delay, visual impairments, hyperactivity, or gelastic seizures in young children. Case Description: In this study, we present the case of a five-year-old Afghan child who displayed quickly evolving secondary sexual traits linked to hypothalamic dysfunction. Endocrine testing supported the central underlying cause of early puberty. The early detection of a small-sized, rounded lesion at the base of the tuber-cinereum on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) led to the diagnosis of Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH). To delay puberty, the patient was treated conservatively with a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue and his response was monitored. Conclusion: This case report includes a review of the relevant literature as well as possible management strategies for a hypothalamic hamartoma.