ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF PUBERAL DEVELOPMENT

Key words: Puberty, Precocious puberty, Breast development, Uterine development, Ultrasound

The use of ultrasound can improve the clinical assessment of puberal development. Breast development is assessed together with uterine, endometrial and ovarian development. This joint evaluation shows the existence of important differences across individuals and is very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disorders of puberal development, such as precocious puberty. At the same time the ultrasound permits the diagnosis of non functional disorders of the breast and the genital apparatus.