Which of the following is NOT associated with a delayed bone age in a child with short stature?

• A. Hypothyroidism
• B. Precocious Puberty
• C. Cushing Syndrome
• D. Growth Hormone Deficiency

Answer: (B)

Bone age reflects how quickly the skeleton matures compared with the child’s chronological age. Delayed bone age means skeletal maturation is slower than expected for age, which fits conditions that suppress growth or slow maturation, such as hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency. Cushing syndrome, with excess glucocorticoids, can also slow growth and delay maturation. Precocious puberty, on the other hand, speeds up skeletal maturation, leading to an advanced bone age relative to chronological age. Therefore, the feature that does not align with delayed bone age is precocious puberty, which accelerates bone maturation.