Apparent self-limited androgen excess in a 4 year-old male

We describe a 4 year-old male with significant virilization, but no source of endogenous or exogenous androgen excess after extensive testing. Evaluation of androgen receptor function, 5 alpha-reductase activity, steroid hormone secretion patterns, and androgen metabolite concentrations were also within the normal range. Over a 10 month period there was spontaneous resolution of the physical and behavioral signs of androgenization. We postulate a self-limited process of androgen production which may represent a yet undefined pattern of sexual precocity in males.