Constitutional delay of growth and puberty in boys: review

The review focuses on the diagnosis, clinical and general therapeutic approach to constitutional growth and delayed puberty and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in men, which are difficult to distinguish. Clinical history and physical examination should be carefully performed. Delayed puberty is due to constitutional growth and delayed sexual development in the vast majority of children. They should be distinguished from a small proportion of boys with hypogonadism — a pathological condition. Several laboratory tests can predict the onset of puberty and progression. However, the emergence of highly sensitive immunoassay and radiometric immunoassay systems for luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone did not completely solve the problem, since their va­lues may overlap between normal and pathological conditions.