OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of ovotesticular disorders of sex development (DSD) in children.

METHODSWe reviewed the clinical data of 9 cases of ovotesticular DSD admitted in our department from 1988 to 2007.

RESULTSThe patients ranged in age from 9 months to 9 years, 7 raised as males and 2 as females. As for the karyotype, 4 cases were 46,XX, 2 were 46,XX/46,XY, 1 was 46,XY, and the other 2 had no karyotype data. All of them presented with obscure external genitalia: perineal or penoscrotal hypospadias with or without cryptorchidism in males and hypertrophy of the clitoris in females. They were diagnosed with ovotesticular DSD by gonad biopsy and underwent genitoplasty.

CONCLUSIONThe gender assignment of the ovotesticular DSD patient was chiefly based on the development of external genitalia, dominant gonad, karyotype and the parent's will. Laparoscopic technology is recommended in gonad biopsy and orchiopexy during the treatment of ovotesticular DSD.