Laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy in a child with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Hysterectomy in a phenotypic male with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

A young adult patient with 46XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) presented with recurrent painful haematuria. CAH was diagnosed at birth following ambiguous genitalia. Hormonal treatment was started, female gender was assigned and feminising genitoplasty was planned, however the patient was lost to follow-up. Gender dysphoria started to occur during childhood which prompted the family to raise the patient as a boy. He eventually identified himself as a male. Examination revealed a male phenotype with severely virilised genitalia. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of uterus with low confluent urogenital sinus. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed, and the troublesome symptoms were cured.

An unexpected diagnosis in children with male phenotype and bilateral nonpalpable gonad: congenital adrenal hyperplasia with female genotype

PURPOSE

Female pseudohermaphroditism is the most frequent form of ambiguous genitalia in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, a small group of children with complete urethral development in contrast to 46XX karyotype can be encountered. We aimed to define the characteristics of patients with 46XX CAH but having fully developed male external genitalia.

METHODS

The records of 11 children with CAH and 46XX karyotype but having male phenotype, encountered from 1990 to 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The age, presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic studies, surgical procedures, early results and outcome were noted. All patients were evaluated by gender assignment team and the decision of the family was also taken into consideration during gender assignment.

RESULTS

Eleven children (mean age 3.64 ± 3 years) (range 5 days-10 years) were enrolled. The main presenting signs were nonpalpable gonads (n = 7), hyperpigmentation (n = 2), jaundice (n = 1) and electrolyte imbalance (n = 1). All patients had bilateral nonpalpable gonads and male phenotype with mean phallus length of 4.5 ± 1.7 cm. Urethral meatus is located at normal position (n = 6) or hypospadiac (n = 5). Labioscrotal fusion was complete in all cases and they were classified as 4th (n = 3) or 5th (n = 8) degree of virilization according to Prader's classification. All children had CAH and 46XX genotype. Pelvic ultrasound (n = 8) and genitocystogram (n = 9) were used, and genitocystoscopy was performed (n = 6). Male gender was assigned in most (n = 10) and female gender in one. Corrective surgery could be performed in 10 patients. The surgical procedures were hysterectomy + bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy + vaginectomy (n = 9), chordee release (n = 3) and then second-stage (n = 2) or one-stage urethra repair (n = 1), and pure one-stage urethra repair (n = 1). One case underwent surrenalectomy before the diagnosis of CAH. Mastectomy (n = 1) and fistula repair (n = 3) were additional operations. Only one child could be undergone feminizing genitoplasty and another was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, most of the children underwent surgery in adverse to genotype because of constituted sexual identity. Children with male phenotype and bilateral nonpalpable gonads should undergo promptly biochemical analyses for CAH and early chromosomal analysis.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review we intend to describe the recent developments and experience gained in recent years with the different types of laparoscopic hysterectomies, and to compare results with those of abdominal hysterectomy.

RECENT FINDINGS

In the United States, in the last decade, there has been clear trend towards laparoscopic hysterectomy. An increase from 0.3% to 9.9% was observed within a 7-year period from 1990 to 1997. High costs and lack of appropriate educational systems for residents and fellows slows the anticipated spread of this relatively new modality. From some retrospective publications it seems that complication rates have increased in laparoscopic hysterectomies, especially those involving the urinary system. However, a recent analysis revealed a reasonable complication rate for the procedure, compared with abdominal hysterectomy, if the surgeon passes a learning curve of the first 30 procedures. A conflict arises in regard to preservation of the uterine cervix during laparoscopic hysterectomy. Alternative procedures, such as supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy or classic intrafascial supra-cervical hysterectomy, have been proposed. However, careful long-term analysis of results demonstrates a high complication rate requiring further operations in 24% of patients.

SUMMARY

Less intraoperative bleeding, shorter hospital stay with less morbidity and shorter convalescence period remains the obvious advantages of laparoscopic in comparison with abdominal hysterectomy.