TLDR Surgery successfully treated a hidden ovarian tumor causing hair loss and excess hair growth in a postmenopausal woman.
A 68-year-old postmenopausal woman experienced rapidly progressive alopecia and hirsutism due to elevated testosterone levels, suggesting an ovarian source. Despite initial radiologic investigations failing to identify a tumor, an elective bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy revealed an occult Leydig cell tumor. Post-surgery, her symptoms improved significantly, and testosterone levels normalized. This case underscored the diagnostic challenges of Leydig cell tumors, which are rare and often undetectable through imaging, and demonstrated the effectiveness of surgical intervention in managing androgen-secreting ovarian tumors.
4 citations
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December 2018 in “Case reports in endocrinology” A 63-year-old woman's male-like symptoms were caused by a rare testosterone-producing ovarian tumor, treated by removing her ovaries and fallopian tubes.
12 citations
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March 2018 in “Medicine” A postmenopausal woman's hirsutism and high testosterone levels improved after surgery for an ovarian tumor not seen on ultrasound.
27 citations
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April 2017 in “European journal of endocrinology” The research found that MRI and certain hormone levels can help tell apart ovarian tumors from hyperthecosis in postmenopausal women, but tissue analysis is still needed for a definite diagnosis.
22 citations
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February 2014 in “Arquivos Brasileiros De Endocrinologia E Metabologia” An 81-year-old woman's severe male hormone symptoms were caused by an ovarian tumor, which was treated with surgery.
63 citations
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March 2011 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Evaluate postmenopausal women with high androgen levels using medical history, physical exams, lab tests, and imaging to manage health risks.
815 citations
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April 2010 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Women with PCOS should be screened for heart disease risk and manage their health to prevent it.
