Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism of ovarian origin: A clinicopathologic study of five cases

Leydig cell ovarian tumor - clinical case description and literature review

Leydig cell ovarian tumors constitute not only a medical problem for clinicians but also a social problem – which is why women with symptoms of hirsutism relatively quickly contact physicians for medical consultation. Leydig cell ovarian tumor is a rare sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor which constitutes less than 0.5% of ovarian tumors. These cancers appear at all ages but the majority of the cases concern women in the perimenopause. In the majority of cases (70-85%), the growth is accompanied by androgen secretion, together with virilization and hirsutism. The presence of hormonally active ovarian cancers should be suspected in cases of rapidly growing symptoms of masculinization, especially when the level of free testosterone in the blood exceeds the upper limit for the given age more than three times. In diagnosing postmenopausal hyperandrogenism, it is necessary to take into account hormonally active ovarian tumors, as well as adrenal cancers. It is important to exclude other causes of hyperandrogenism, e.g. endocrinopathies (acromegaly or hypothyroidism), or iatrogenic and idiopathic factors. In order to make the diagnosis and implement the proper treatment method faster, an interdisciplinary team of physicians specializing in endocrinology, gynecology and oncology is crucial. This paper contains a study of two cases concerning Leydig cell ovarian tumors in women of postmenopausal age with symptoms of masculinization and hirsutism.

Hyperandrogenism in a Postmenopausal Woman Secondary to Testosterone Secreting Ovarian Stromal Tumor with Acoustic Schwannoma

Androgen-secreting ovarian neoplasms are rare ovarian tumors that present with hirsutism and virilization which may manifest as severe alopecia, deepening of voice, and clitoromegaly. Most often, ovarian tumors are found to be very small or even undetectable. In such cases, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be performed after ruling out other causes of high androgens. We present a 63-year-old postmenopausal woman with clinically and radiologically undetectable testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor, which was later on detected on biopsy.