Ovotesticular Disorder of Sex Development in Korean Children: A Single-Center Analysis over a 30-Year Period

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Oct;34(5):626-630. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.02.105. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Abstract

Study objective: To present clinical features that characterize ovotesticular disorder of sex development (OT-DSD) in the Korean population. Among the patient cohort who were initially suspected to have OT-DSD, the actual OT-DSD patients and those of other disorder of sex development were compared.

Design: Retrospective medical chart review of patients who were initially suspected to have OT-DSD from 1984 to 2018 on the basis of clinical examination.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Participants: Of 26 patients with initial diagnosis of OT-DSD, 3 were excluded because of incomplete records, and finally, 23 patients were subjected to analysis. Various examinations were performed before the surgical confirmation of gonad histopathology.

Interventions: Medical records were reviewed for clinical, anatomical, biochemical, and cytogenic characteristics, gender assignment, medical treatment, and histopathologic diagnosis.

Main outcome measures: Characteristics of OT-DSD in a Korean population.

Results: Among 23 patients suspected to have OT-DSD, 13/23 (56.5%) were diagnosed as OT-DSD after histopathologic confirmation. Of the remaining 10 patients, 5/23 (21.7%) were diagnosed with mixed gonadal dysgenesis, 3 with Turner variant, 1 with 46,XX disorder of sex development, and 1 with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. Among the 13 OT-DSD cases, 9 patients presented with the 46,XX karyotype, 1 with the 46,XY, and 3 with the 46,XX/XY karyotype. Nine patients were assigned as male and 4 as female at birth. The most common gonad histology was ovotestis 10/26 (38%), followed by ovary and testis.

Conclusion: OT-DSD is one of the rarest disorders with various clinical presentations. A patient with ambiguous genitalia must be examined with a multidisciplinary approach with clinical suspicion for OT-DSD. Standardized procedure of evaluation and treatment is crucial.

Keywords: Disorders of sex development; Ovotesticular disorder; True hermaphrodite.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Disorders of Sex Development*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development* / diagnosis
  • Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development* / epidemiology
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sexual Development