Hepatic Adenoma in an Adolescent With Elevated Androgen Levels

    Maria Triantafyllopoulou, Peter F. Whitington, Héctor Melín-Aldana, Ellen C Benya, Wendy J. Brickman
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    TLDR A teenage girl with high androgen levels and PCOS developed a rare liver tumor, suggesting a possible link between high androgens and the tumor's growth.
    The document reports the case of a 13-year-old obese Hispanic girl with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and elevated androgen levels who developed a hepatic adenoma (HA), a rare benign liver tumor. This is notable as HA has been associated with exogenous androgen use, but there is limited literature on its association with endogenous androgens. The patient's HA was surgically resected, and her androgen levels remained elevated post-surgery. Treatment with metformin was initiated for her insulin resistance, which led to some improvement in her condition, but her androgen levels did not normalize. The case suggests a potential link between elevated androgen levels and the development of HA, although the exact role of androgens in HA pathogenesis remains unclear. The patient's HA did not show androgen receptor staining, which is inconsistent with some previous findings in HA pathology. The document emphasizes the rarity of HA in the pediatric population and the need for further research into the hormonal regulation of HA development.
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