An Occult Leydig Cell Tumor in a Postmenopausal Woman Presenting with Alopecia and Hirsutism: A Case Report

January 2021 in “ touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology ”

Shuann Shwana, Natasha Shrikrishnapalasuriyar, Win Yin, Monica Vij, Atul Kalhan

alopecia hirsutism testosterone Leydig cell tumor androgen-secreting ovarian tumors bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

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.

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