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Prepubertal gynecomastia and chronic lavender exposure: report of three cases

  • Alejandro Diaz EMAIL logo , Laura Luque , Zain Badar , Steve Kornic and Marco Danon
Published/Copyright: September 3, 2015
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
From the journal Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Volume 29 Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: Prepubertal gynecomastia is a rare condition characterized by the growth of breast tissue in males as a consequence of early exposure to sexual hormones. When this condition is present, pathological sources of testosterone/estrogen production, such as adrenal or gonadal tumors must be searched for. A few reports have described an association between gynecomastia and substances that produce stimulation of the estrogen receptor, such as lavender and tea tree oil.

Methods: Here we describe the cases of three boys who presented with prepubertal gynecomastia and were chronically exposed to lavender. Two of these boys were exposed to a cologne, named agua de violetas, used by Hispanic communities in the US, and in their countries of origin.

Results: We studied a sample of the cologne used by one of the patients. Analysis of the chemical composition of the agua de violetas cologne was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography as well as off-line mass spectrometric detection. All these, combined with the physical appearance and the smell, determined that the cologne had lavender as an ingredient.

Conclusion: Exposure to estrogenic substances, such as lavender, should be explored in children presenting with prepubertal gynecomastia/thelarche.

Keywords: breast tissue; estrogens; lavender; prepubertal gynecomastia
Corresponding author: Alejandro Diaz, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, 3100 S.W., 62nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155, USA, Phone: +(305) 6628368, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Elizabeth G. Lipman Diaz, Ph.D., for helping in the critical review and drafting of the manuscript.

Funding source: No funding was secured for this study.

Financial disclosure: The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Contributor’s statement

Alejandro Diaz: Evaluated the patients, ordered laboratory tests, conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Laura Luque: Co-writer, Coordinated literature review, revised and critically reviewed the manuscript.

Zain Badar: Coordinated the chemical evaluation of the lavender sample, and revised the manuscript for submission.

Steve Kornic: Literature review, performed the chemical analysis of the lavender sample.

Marco Danon:Contributed with one of his patients and revised the manuscript.

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Received: 2015-6-18
Accepted: 2015-8-3
Published Online: 2015-9-3
Published in Print: 2016-1-1

©2016 by De Gruyter

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. EDITORIAL
  3. Newborn screening of metabolic disorders
  4. Current and future perspective of newborn screening: an Indian scenario
  5. Hawkinsinuria in two unrelated Greek newborns: identification of a novel variant, biochemical findings and treatment
  6. Leptin and neuropeptide Y levels in newborns
  7. Markers of bone metabolism, serum leptin levels and bone mineral density in preterm babies
  8. Adipokines in umbilical cord blood from children born large for gestational age
  9. REVIEW
  10. Diabetes insipidus in children
  11. ORIGINAL ARTICLES
  12. Essential oils reduce autonomous response to pain sensation during self-monitoring of blood glucose among children with diabetes
  13. The prevalence of melanocortin-4 receptor gene mutations in Slovak obese children and adolescents
  14. Physical activity does not attenuate the relationship between daily cortisol and metabolic syndrome in obese youth
  15. Evaluation of the tshr gene reveals polymorphisms associated with typical symptoms in primary congenital hypothyroidism
  16. The effect of tamoxifen on pubertal bone development in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia
  17. Effects of methylphenidate on appetite and growth in children diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
  18. CASE REPORTS
  19. An unusual case of hereditary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (HNDI) affecting mother and daughter
  20. Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation syndrome and celiac disease in a 13-year-old girl: further evidence for autoimmunity?
  21. Prepubertal gynecomastia and chronic lavender exposure: report of three cases
  22. An adolescent girl referred with Cushing syndrome – does she or does she not have the syndrome?
https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2015-0248
Keywords for this article
breast tissue; estrogens; lavender; prepubertal gynecomastia

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. EDITORIAL
  3. Newborn screening of metabolic disorders
  4. Current and future perspective of newborn screening: an Indian scenario
  5. Hawkinsinuria in two unrelated Greek newborns: identification of a novel variant, biochemical findings and treatment
  6. Leptin and neuropeptide Y levels in newborns
  7. Markers of bone metabolism, serum leptin levels and bone mineral density in preterm babies
  8. Adipokines in umbilical cord blood from children born large for gestational age
  9. REVIEW
  10. Diabetes insipidus in children
  11. ORIGINAL ARTICLES
  12. Essential oils reduce autonomous response to pain sensation during self-monitoring of blood glucose among children with diabetes
  13. The prevalence of melanocortin-4 receptor gene mutations in Slovak obese children and adolescents
  14. Physical activity does not attenuate the relationship between daily cortisol and metabolic syndrome in obese youth
  15. Evaluation of the tshr gene reveals polymorphisms associated with typical symptoms in primary congenital hypothyroidism
  16. The effect of tamoxifen on pubertal bone development in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia
  17. Effects of methylphenidate on appetite and growth in children diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
  18. CASE REPORTS
  19. An unusual case of hereditary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (HNDI) affecting mother and daughter
  20. Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation syndrome and celiac disease in a 13-year-old girl: further evidence for autoimmunity?
  21. Prepubertal gynecomastia and chronic lavender exposure: report of three cases
  22. An adolescent girl referred with Cushing syndrome – does she or does she not have the syndrome?
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