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Pediatric endocrinology question
My son has been seeing an endocrinologist for delayed growth. In Sept. 2008, he was 14 yrs. 5 mos. His bone age was 11 1/2 and he was in Stage 1-2 of puberty. The dr. estimated he would be 5'10" based on childhood growth patterns. He also stated in Sept. 2008 that my son had 5 1/2 years of growth ahead of him. His father is 5'11", I (his mother) am 5' 3," and his 20 yr. old brother is 5' 10". All of us were late bloomers.
My son is now 17 yrs. 1 mo and he is 5'4". For the past 6 months, the dr. has been baffled that he has yet to have a big growth spurt. He is in stage 3-4 of puberty, no underarm hair, no facial hair. In Nov. 2010, the dr. asked for another bone age scan which said he was then 14 1/2 years. Extensive blood tests have been done to check hormone levels, and everything is always normal. Even cortisol levels were checked: normal.
On our most recent visit in May 2011, he ordered another bone age scan and also said he wanted to see the films himself. I called to get the results and the receptionist told me the dr. hadn't yet looked at them. She called back a few hours later to say the dr. had seen the x rays and that now his bone age was "close to" his chronological age and that he had reached his full adult height. She also said we needn't bother coming back for a follow-up visit.
We were stunned. The office was very dismissive with my questions on the phone. How could his bone age have increased so rapidly? Also, if he's only in Stage 3-4 of puberty, how can he have reached his full height? And how could the initial height projection have been so wrong? What happened to the 5 1/2 yrs of growth ahead of him--it's been 2 1/2 so far. Is it possible the dr. (not a radiologist) misread the film? Should we seek another opinion?
My son is now 17 yrs. 1 mo and he is 5'4". For the past 6 months, the dr. has been baffled that he has yet to have a big growth spurt. He is in stage 3-4 of puberty, no underarm hair, no facial hair. In Nov. 2010, the dr. asked for another bone age scan which said he was then 14 1/2 years. Extensive blood tests have been done to check hormone levels, and everything is always normal. Even cortisol levels were checked: normal.
On our most recent visit in May 2011, he ordered another bone age scan and also said he wanted to see the films himself. I called to get the results and the receptionist told me the dr. hadn't yet looked at them. She called back a few hours later to say the dr. had seen the x rays and that now his bone age was "close to" his chronological age and that he had reached his full adult height. She also said we needn't bother coming back for a follow-up visit.
We were stunned. The office was very dismissive with my questions on the phone. How could his bone age have increased so rapidly? Also, if he's only in Stage 3-4 of puberty, how can he have reached his full height? And how could the initial height projection have been so wrong? What happened to the 5 1/2 yrs of growth ahead of him--it's been 2 1/2 so far. Is it possible the dr. (not a radiologist) misread the film? Should we seek another opinion?
Took My 7yr old boy in for a checkup because he was getting some pubic hair. His bone age test showed he was in the 9-10yr old range. He is on the spectrum for autism but it's mild. He is also the the 97th percentile for his hight and weight and is proportional. I need to get labs done now, and pretty freaked out
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