Challenges in diagnosing ovarian sertoli-leydig cell tumors: A Peruvian case series

September 2024 in “ Electronic Journal of General Medicine ”

Sofía Pilar Ildefonso-Najarro, Marcio José Concepción‐Zavaleta, Rocio Karina Quiñonez Barra, Frederick Massucco Revoredo, Augusto Dextre Espinoza, Eddy Martin Mayta Condori, Katia Rivera Fabián, Juan Eduardo Quiroz‐Aldave, Lizbeth Katherine Quintero-Aquino

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors virilization polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS hirsutism alopecia androgens hyperandrogenism hair loss male pattern baldness androgenic hair loss

TLDR Diagnosing Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors is challenging due to their unusual symptoms and can occur at any age.

This case series discusses the challenges in diagnosing Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT) in two Peruvian women with virilization symptoms. The first case involved a 27-year-old woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who experienced voice changes, increased muscular strength, and acne, leading to the discovery of SLCT after a left salpingo-oophorectomy. The second case involved a 48-year-old woman with a history of PCOS, prediabetes, and dyslipidemia, who presented with hirsutism, alopecia, and other symptoms, resulting in the identification of SLCT following a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy. Both cases showed normalization of androgens and clinical improvement post-surgery. The study highlights the diagnostic challenges due to the unusual presentation of SLCT, which can occur at any age with rapidly evolving hyperandrogenism and virilization symptoms.

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