Medical intervention in a constitutionally tall child

Abstract

Constitutionally tall stature (CTS) in children is a normal variant of growth within populations. Based mainly on psychological factors, sex steroids have been prescribed since the 1950s to induce puberty, as a mean to reduce final adult height. Controversy remains in the treatment of CTS, as well as lack of established criteria for initiating treatment. We report a constitutionally tall Saudi boy who was treated with sex steroids and was successful in reducing his final adult height. Copyright 2012 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.