Development of a simplified prediction model for diagnosing progressive central precocious puberty using clinical and

Kyungchul Song1, Eunju Lee2, Hye Sun Lee2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Plos One
|May 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study developed a simplified prediction model for central precocious puberty (CPP) using clinical and ultrasound data. The model effectively differentiates progressive CPP from nonprogressive CPP, improving diagnostic accuracy in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • Central precocious puberty (CPP) diagnosis can be challenging, requiring differentiation between progressive and nonprogressive forms.
  • Traditional diagnostic methods may have limitations in accurately predicting CPP progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of clinical and pelvic ultrasound parameters for diagnosing CPP.
  • To develop a simplified, clinically useful prediction model to distinguish progressive CPP (P-CP) from nonprogressive precocious puberty (N-PP).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 109 girls under 9 years old with secondary sexual development.
  • Logistic regression analysis to identify significant diagnostic parameters and develop prediction models.
  • Comparison of model performance using AUC, cNRI, and IDI, including a nomogram scoring system.

Main Results:

  • Significant predictors for P-CP included age, bone age, height, basal LH, estradiol, and cervical/fundus width.
  • Models incorporating ultrasound parameters showed significantly improved diagnostic performance (cNRI, IDI) compared to clinical data alone.
  • A simplified model using basal LH, estradiol, and fundus width achieved an AUC of 0.93 for P-CP prediction.

Conclusions:

  • Pelvic ultrasound parameters add significant value to clinical data for P-CP screening.
  • A simplified predictive model incorporating ultrasound is effective for real-world CPP screening.
  • This model offers a promising approach to overcome limitations in classical CPP diagnostic strategies.