Endocrinology: precocious puberty: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Endocrinology: precocious puberty

Sample item

A 6-year-old girl develops breast enlargement and pubic hair with advanced bone age. Which statement defines this condition?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pubertal signs before 8 years in girls

Precocious puberty is onset of secondary sexual characteristics before 8 years in girls and before 9 years in boys. Most cases in girls are idiopathic central precocious puberty, treated with GnRH analogues. Boys more often have an organic cause.

Option by option

  • A. Pubertal signs before 8 years in girls (correct)

    Correct. The cut-off is 8 years in girls.

  • B. Pubertal signs before 12 years in girls

    Twelve years is within the normal range for girls.

  • C. Pubertal signs before 10 years in boys

    The cut-off in boys is 9 years.

  • D. Pubertal signs before 14 years in girls

    Fourteen years would define delayed rather than precocious puberty.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Pubertal signs before 8 years in girls. Precocious puberty is onset of secondary sexual characteristics before 8 years in girls and before 9 years in boys.

Why is "Pubertal signs before 12 years in girls" not the answer?

Twelve years is within the normal range for girls.

Why is "Pubertal signs before 10 years in boys" not the answer?

The cut-off in boys is 9 years.

Why is "Pubertal signs before 14 years in girls" not the answer?

Fourteen years would define delayed rather than precocious puberty.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrinology: precocious puberty in Pediatrics. Most cases in girls are idiopathic central precocious puberty, treated with GnRH analogues. Boys more often have an organic cause.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Endocrinology: precocious puberty?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.