A case report on ovotesticular DSD

Publication date: Available online 12 February 2015 Source:Apollo Medicine Author(s): G. Aruna Jyothi , Nitya Waghray True hermaphrodite (TH) is one of the rarest varieties of disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD). It refers to individuals who have both ovarian tissue and testicular elements regardless of their karyotype. The development of phenotypic sex is a complex process dependent upon the differentiation of bipotential gonads into the testes or ovaries. In the nature and location of the gonads true hermaphroditism may be bilateral (testis and ovary or ovotestes on each side), unilateral (ovotestes on one side and testis or ovary on the other), or lateral existence (testis on one side and ovary on the other). Additionally, the ovotestes is defined as a single gonad containing both testicular and ovarian tissues. In the present report the authors describe a case of ambiguous genitalia in an 18 year old who had come for laparoscopic hysterectomy; the sex of the patient was determined to be male before making the final diagnosis. Early and appropriate gender assignment is necessary for healthy physical and psychologic development of children with ambiguous genitalia. Gender assignment can be facilitated with a team approach that involves a pediatric endocrinologist, geneticist, urologist, psychiatrist, social worker, neonatologist, nurse, and radiologist, allowing timely diagnosis and proper management.
Source: Apollo Medicine - Category: Journals (General) Source Type: research