Is Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Necessary in Every Patient with Central Precocious Puberty?

INTRODUCTION: Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is more common in girls and it is usually idiopathic. Although cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended in patients with CPP that starts before the age of 6 to elucidate the underlying pathology, performing cranial magnetic resonance imaging in patients who are between the ages of 6 and 8 is controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate cranial MRI results and the frequency of intracranial lesions in girls who were diagnosed with CPP. METHODS: In the study, 121 female patients with CPP were included. In the review of the medical records of the patients, anthropometric measurements, laboratory findings and cranial MRI findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients included in the study was found as 7.24 +- 1.04 years. In 7 (5.8%) of the 121 patients, lesions definitely associated with CPP were detected; in 5 (4.1%) patients, lesions possibly associated with CPP were detected and in 12 (9.9%) patients, lesions that did not induce CPP (incidentaloma) were detected. Neurological findings were not present in all of the patients with cranial pathology. All of the patients with intracranial lesions were between the ages of 6 and 8. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In our study, contrary to many previous studies, the frequency of cranial pathology was found to be high in patients with CPP that started after the age of 6. Therefore, we recommend performing cranial MRI in all girls who are diagnosed with CPP before the age of 8, regardless of the presence of neurological findings.