© Freund Publishing House Ltd., London Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 22, 1083-1086 (2009)
Mixed Gonadal Dysgenesis in a 45,X Neonate with
Chromosome Õ Material in the Dysgenetic Gonad
Ageliki Karatza
1
, Dionisios Chrysis
1
, Eunice-Georgia Stefanou
1
,
Stefanos Mantagos
1
and Christos Salakos
2
'Department of Pediatrics and
2
Department of Pediatric Surgery,
University ofPatras Medical School, Greece
ABSTRACT
We report on a neonate with a disorder of sex
development, Prader 3-4 external genitalia and a
palpable structure in the right inguinal canal
suggestive of gonadal tissue. Chromosome studies
on blood lymphocytes showed monosomy of
chromosome X. Laparoscopy identified a streak-
like gonad on the left side, unicorn uterus and a
dysgenetic testis on the right, attached to a
Fallopian tube. Because of the unilateral pal-
pable gonad and the presence of ambiguous
genitalia we investigated further for the presence
of Õ material. Quantitative fluorescent PCR
analysis of material from the dysgenetic gonad
and skin fibroblasts revealed the presence of
chromosome Y-derived sequences, suggesting
sex chromosome mosaicism. In 45,X/46,XY
mosaicism, chromosome studies carried out on
peripheral lymphocytes do not always reflect the
proportion of cell lines in the gonads. The
detection of Õ chromosome material in a dys-
genetic gonad is extremely significant, due to the
high risk of malignant transformation.
INTRODUCTION
Mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MOD), a disorder of
sexual differentiation, is characterized by the
asymmetrical presence of dysgenetic testicular
tissue. There is a considerable variability of pheno-
type which can range from normal male to normal
female, through the whole spectrum of ambiguity.
The etiology is variable and sex chromosome
mosaicism, in which 45,X karyotype is combined
with a cell line that contains a normal or abnormal
Õ chromosome, represents one of the important
causes
1
.
On the other hand, not all patients with 45,X/
46,XY mosaicism have MGD. A wide phenotypic
spectrum has been reported in children with 45,X/
46,XY mosaicism. Females usually have Turner's
stigmata. Turner's syndrome is characterized by the
presence of certain physical features in phenotypic
females with complete or partial absence of one of
the sex chromosomes, with or without cell line
mosaicism. Phenotypic males or ambiguous cases,
independently of the karyotype, are not considered
as Turner's syndrome.
KEY WORDS
mixed gonadal dysgenesis, 45,X/46,XY mosaic,
QF-PCR analysis, Turner's syndrome, disorder of
sex development
Reprint address:
Christos Salakos, M.D.
Department of Pediatric Surgery
General University Hospital ofPatras
26504, Rio, Patras, Greece
e-mail: csalakos@otenet.gr
PATIENT REPORT
An intersex neonate was born at 41 weeks of
gestation, of a healthy 24 year-old primigravida
with normal vaginal delivery. Rupture of mem-
branes occurred 3 hours prior to delivery, amniotic
fluid was mildly meconium stained, birth weight
was 3,445 g and Apgar score was 7 at the 1
st
and 10
at the 5
th
minute of life. Both antenatal and family
history were unremarkable. The mother denied use
of any medication during pregnancy and the parents
were non-consanguineous. Cardiac and renal ultra-
sounds were normal.
VOLUME 22, NO. 11,2009 1083
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