One-stage sex reassignment surgery at the delayed presentation in a patient with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome: A case report

Introduction and importance

The partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) is a rare genetic disorder, which needs to be diagnosed early and provided suitable treatment. One-stage sex reassignment surgery can be considered as one of the treatment options for PAIS patients.

Case presentation

A 44-year-old patient with PAIS was admitted to our hospital. After getting a consultation, the patient decided to choose the one-stage sex reassignment surgery to be reassigned to be a female. The surgery consisted of breast augmentation and genital surgery. After 8 months of follow-up, the patient's breast had a desired shape and volume. The clitoris was in normal size with normal sensation, and the neovagina was 8 cm in depth with a smooth mucosal surface. We also observed that the minor labia were symmetric. The patient reported achieving orgasms with sex toys.

Clinical discussion

The one-stage sex reassignment surgery for the PAIS patient is safe and reduces treatment time for patients. It could also bring many benefits to the patients, such as reducing the incision, preventing gonadoblastoma and giving a sense of the patient's female gender which helps the patient feel confident and improve her quality of life. Thus, the one-stage surgery should be indicated for the patient at middle-aged who shouldn't be delayed anymore to have normal female breast and external genitalia.

Conclusion

The one-stage sex reassignment surgery was performed safely and successfully on the delayed presentation of the PAIS patient. This could be an effective and appropriate approach to treat late-diagnosed PAIS patients.

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One-stage sex reassignment surgery for a patient with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome

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A 44-year-old patient at the delayed presentation of the disorder

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We observed good treatment outcomes with a 8-moth follow-up

Evolving indications for surgical intervention in patients with differences/disorders of sex development: Implications of deferred reconstruction

Rare medical conditions are difficult to study due to the lack of patient volume and limited research resources, and as a result of these challenges, progress in the care of patients with these conditions is slow. Individuals born with differences of sex development (DSD) fall into this category of rare conditions and have additional social barriers due to the intimate nature of the conditions. There is also a lack of general knowledge in the medical community about this group of diverse diagnoses. Despite these limitations, progress has been made in the study of effective ways to care for patients who are born with chromosomal or anatomical differences of their internal reproductive organs or external genitalia. Advocacy groups have placed a spotlight on these topics and asked for a thoughtful approach to educate parents of newborns, medical providers, and the adolescents and young adults themselves as they mature.¹ There is growing interest in the approaches to surgical reconstruction of the genitalia and the management of internal gonads, specifically the timing of procedures and the indications for those procedures.² Advocates suggest deferring surgical procedures until the affected individual can participate in the decision-making process. This approach requires a roadmap for addressing the long-term implications of delayed surgical management. Presented here is a review of the specific issues regarding the complex management of the various categories of DSD.

Clitoroplasty: A variant of the technique by Acimi

Objectives

To evaluate the mid-term results of clitoroplasty through the reduction of the length and diameter of the corpus cavernosum, as well as the volume of the glans.

Patients and methods

From October 2003 to July 2015, we performed 29 clitoroplasties using the described procedure. The median (range) age of the patients was 18 (3–47) months. After surgery we evaluated the volume of the clitoris, the appearance of glans, and its sensitivity to light touch, pressure, and pain.

Results

The length of the apparent part of the glans remained large (>10 mm) in four patients (14%), was an average size (between 5 and 10 mm) in 11 (39%), and small (<5 mm) in 13 (46%). The length of the corpus cavernosum was <20 mm and its diameter <5 mm in all cases. The sensitivity of the reduced clitoris to touch, pressure and pain seemed normal in all patients. In addition, we never found the circumflex arteries and nerves of the penis (on histological examination of excised pieces of corpus cavernosum) in all children operated on during the first 3 years of life. The circumflex arteries of the penis begin to develop, only after the fourth year. This anatomical finding is an argument for performing clitoroplasty at an early age to avoid any risk of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding.

Conclusions

The sensitivity of the clitoral glans appeared to be normal in all cases, with a good cosmetic appearance of the external genitalia in most patients.

Surgical Treatment of Complication of Female Genital Mutilation in Pikine Hospital, Senegal

We share our experience on reconstructive for surgery female genital mutilation. This is a retrospective study of all cases of female genital mutilation surgery performed in Pikine National Hospital. We have reviewed the various indications and surgical techniques used. We collected 8 cases of clitoral cyst and 6 cases of closed vaginal opening. The surgery of clitoral cysts was to perform cystectomy followed by nymphoplasty. The closing of the vaginal opening required defibulation together with clitoroplasty according to the wishes of the patient. The anatomical and functional outcomes were satisfactory. Female genital mutilation surgery requires a good knowledge of vulvar anatomy. The various surgical indications must meet the expectations of patients to guarantee their satisfaction.

[CLITOROPLASTY FOR GENITAL VIRILIZATION IN GIRLS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of clitoroplasty of reserving the clitoris dorsal neurovascular bundle and the ventral complete urethral plate for genital virilization in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

METHODS

Between June 2000 and October 2015, 27 girls with genital virilization were treated with clitoroplasty of reserving the clitoris dorsal neurovascular bundle and the ventral complete urethral plate. The chromosomal karyotype was 46, XX in all patients, whose age ranged from 3 to 11 years (mean, 3.9 years). According to Parder's virilization scale, 5 cases were classified as stage Ⅱ, 18 cases as stage Ⅲ, and 4 cases as stage Ⅳ. The hormone tests showed decreased cortisol level and increased testosterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels. They were diagnosed with non-salt-wasting CAH.

RESULTS

All of the patients underwent clitoroplasty successfully. The mean operation time was 74 minutes (range, 58-95 minutes). Incision healed primarily. The patients were followed up 6 months to 10 years (median, 19 months). The external genitalia had good appearance, without necrosis of flap and the glans clitoris, abnormal sensation of the glans clitoris, or clitorism recurrence. Five girls had breast development and normal menstrual cycle during adolescence, and 1 patient who was followed up for 10 years gave birth to a son.

CONCLUSIONS

Clitoroplasty of reserving the clitoris dorsal neurovascular bundle and the ventral complete urethral plate is a relatively ideal method for treating genital virilization in girls. It has less complications, good aesthetic and functional results. There are satisfactory outcomes when combining with the endocrine treatment.

Study of clitoral hood anatomy in the pediatric population

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Pediatric female genitalia size and morphology have not previously been well described. The aims of this study were to create a standard reference for the anterior vulval structures, and examine the relationship between the clitoral hood and labia minora.

METHOD

Female patients between 0 and 16 years of age, and with normal external genitalia had the following measurements taken: length of clitoral hood, length of sides of clitoral hood, clitoral diameter, apex of clitoral hood to base of pubic symphysis, apex of clitoral hood to urethral orifice, distance of clitoral hood to labia majora, and length and depth of labia minora. Qualitative descriptors of the clitoral hood and labia were recorded. Patients were grouped into age ranges for analysis: 0-3 years, 4-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13-16 years.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight girls were examined. There was a linear relationship between age and genital structure size. In the majority of patients, the labia minora converged under the clitoral glans, separate to the clitoral hood. Four shapes of clitoral hood were observed: horseshoe, trumpet, coffee bean, and tent.

DISCUSSION

This study observed great variation in size and morphology of pediatric female genitalia, which is in keeping with other studies. The study was limited by ability to recruit older patients to the study (girls aged 11-16 years) and, therefore, there were lower numbers in this age category. However, the trends that were observed were present in both younger and older girls.

CONCLUSION

External genitalia size and morphology are varied in the pediatric female population. The clitoral hood and labia minora were observed to be distinctly separate structures. This study provides a reference for surgeons undertaking genital reconstruction procedures. The study demonstrated that the clitoral hood and labia minora are anatomically distinct structures.

Practice changes in childhood surgery for ambiguous genitalia?

OBJECTIVE

In 2001, this team published an observational study of the clinical outcomes of a cohort of adolescent girls born with ambiguous genitalia. The poor outcomes observed represented a major scientific challenge to the standard practice of childhood feminising genital surgery. That publication was one of several contributing to a call for change in surgical practice, which culminated in the publication of the Chicago Consensus Document in 2006. The aim of this current study was to repeat the same evaluation of clinical outcomes on a recent cohort of adolescent girls and compare the two cohorts to identify differences in adolescent outcomes which may indicate a change in paediatric surgical practice.

METHODS

This was an observational study of a current cohort of adolescent girls treated in childhood for ambiguous genitalia and referred to a specialist adolescent disorders of sex development (DSD) service for assessment. Data were collected on surgical history, genital examination findings and treatment recommendations for 30 consecutive adolescents over a 5-year period. Findings were compared with those of a similar cohort of adolescent girls published over a decade previously.

RESULTS

Clitoral surgery remained common (93% vs 100%, current cohort vs historical cohort). However, concomitant vaginoplasty was performed less frequently (80 vs 100% current vs historical). Vaginoplasty revision surgery was also less commonly required (65 vs 81%), although 24% of the recent cohort still required major revision surgery prior to intercourse. There was some improvement to the cosmetic outcomes as deemed by the surgical team using the same criteria as the previous report.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides some slight evidence of recent practice change. There was a small reduction in the number of vaginoplasties performed in childhood and an improvement in vaginoplasty outcomes and cosmesis. However, there was no identifiable change in management of clitoromegaly and the numbers of clitoral reduction operations remained high. This is surprising given the clear evidence of a detrimental impact of surgery on clitoral sensation and sexual function.

Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia: A delayed presentation

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare congenital disorder, which in cases of female genotype may result in virilization. Specific enzyme deficiencies in adrenocorticoid hormones biosynthetic pathway lead to excess androgen production causing virilization. Classic type presents early in infant life as salt losing or simple virilizing type, whereas non classic form presents late at puberty or in adult life. Depending on the type of classic CAH, type of adrenocorticoid deficiency, extent of virilization & genotype, surgical corrective procedures, glucocorticoid & mineralocorticoid replacement therapy are the mainstay of management. We present here a case of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia of simple virilizing type, which presented later in childhood.

[Clitoral epidermoid cyst causing clitoromegaly. A rare case report]

Clitoromegaly is uncommon. It is mostly congenital, hormonal or tumoral. Epidermoid cyst is rare. It can be the consequence of trauma, but in some situations the cyst can be non-traumatic. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented a misdiagnosis of clitoromegaly due to hormonal condition. Surgical exploration has highlighted an epidermoid cyst. This observation underlines the importance to evoke a cystic origin for clitoral hypertrophy and encourages us to propose imaging (ultrasound, MRI) in case of etiological doubt. The preoperative diagnosis must be made to preserve vascularization and innervation of the clitoris.