A Rare Cause of Hyperandrogenism in Postmenopausal Women: Ovarian Stromal Hyperplasia
October 2024
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
TLDR Ovarian stromal hyperplasia can cause high testosterone in postmenopausal women and is treated by removing the ovaries.
Ovarian stromal hyperplasia (OSH) is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism, particularly in postmenopausal women, characterized by non-neoplastic proliferation of ovarian stromal cells leading to excessive testosterone production. This case report discusses a 49-year-old postmenopausal woman with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, who presented with hirsutism and elevated testosterone levels. Despite normal results from a dexamethasone suppression test and imaging showing no masses, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy revealed OSH, normalizing her testosterone levels and improving hair distribution. OSH is diagnosed through histological evaluation post-oophorectomy, which is curative, and should be considered in patients with hyperandrogenism to ensure timely treatment.