Relationship between pineal cysts and central precocious puberty

Objective: To describe clinical characteristics of patients with central precocious puberty (CPP) and pineal cyst, whose causal relationship remains unknown. Method: An observational, multicentre, and retrospective study of patients with CPP and pineal cyst was carried out. Results: We recorded four girls, aged between 2-7 years, diagnosed with CPP, without other medical problems, with the finding of an asymptomatic pineal cyst bigger than 5 x 5 mm in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). All of them were treated with GnRH agonists with regression of pubertal symptoms. Three of the patients had no changes on pineal cyst follow up with successive imaging. In the other, the pineal cyst disappeared after four years. Comments: We review the epidemiological data and clinical evolution of pineal cysts and the possible mechanisms involved in central precocious puberty. (C) 2009 Asociacion Espanola de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.