Interstitial Cell Tumor of the Testis. Study of a 5-Year-Old Boy With Pseudo-Precocious Puberty*

THE interstitial cells of the testis, which were first described by Leydig (1), occasionally may give rise to tumors. Eight such cases occurring in childhood have been described in the literature (2–9). In the pediatric age group these tumors occur mostly during the fifth and sixth years of life and apparently are invariably associated with signs of precocious masculinization. The present report describes an additional case of pseudo-precocious puberty due to a testicular interstitial cell tumor in a 5-year-old boy, and gives quantitative and qualitative information concerning his urinary steroid excretion. This white boy, aged 5 3/12 years, was admitted for study because of precocious masculinization. Eight months earlier, it had been noted that his voice had become deeper, that he had suddenty begun to gain rapidly in height and weight, and that his penis was becoming larger than normal. At the same time, acne was seen on his face. Seven months before admission, pubic and axillary hair were first noticed, and hair appeared on his upper lip. One month prior to admission, his mother noted a mass in the right scrotum. This swelling increased somewhat in size during the ensuing month. There had been no known erections or emissions and no pain or tenderness in the scrotum. No urinary symptoms were elicited. The child, who previously had behaved normally, became progressively more hyperactive and aggressive. The family history and the patient's past history were noncontributory. The patient's growth rate and development had been considered normal by the family until the onset of the present illness, and he appeared to be of average intelligence.