An occult ovarian androgen-secreting steroid cell tumor in a postmenopausal woman with severe clinical and laboratory hyperandrogenism : Case Report

Gali Levy

doi:10.58372/2835-6276.1065

Authors

Gali Levy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58372/2835-6276.1065

Keywords:

Steroid cell tumor, ovary, androgen secreting cell tumor, hyperandrogenism

Abstract

Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumors (SCTs), are an extremely rare type of sex cord tumors, accounting for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. Testosterone is the most common androgen secreted from this type of tumor and causes clinical androgenic in approximately 50% of cases. These tumors are usually unilateral (94%), and 28% are malignant. A case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of hirsutism and alopecia is reported. serum testosterone levels were elevated to 15ng/ml. Systemic imaging done by CT was negative for pathological findings, however gynecologic examination and a transvaginal sonogram revealed a left complex 3 cm ovarian cyst. After a complete work up, the patient underwent a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (along with subtotal hysterectomy and sacrocolpopexy secondary to uterine prolapse). Histopathologic examination revealed a 3 cm benign serous cystadenoma, and an adjacent 0.8 cm solid steroid producing tumor. The following report aims to broaden the current and scarce knowledge of this type of rare ovarian tumor.

Conclusions: Steroid cell tumors may be presented as an occult ovarian lesion. In the case of significant androgenic symptoms with no evidence of other possible lesion an occult ovarian tumor should be suspected, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be considered especially in postmenopausal patients.

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