A Unique Presentation of Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor Causing Hyperandrogenism in a Postmenopausal Woman

October 2024 in “ Journal of the Endocrine Society ”

Ahmed Rehan, Mritunjay Pandey, Itivrita Goyal, Emma Punni, Nabeel Shakir

hyperandrogenism hirsutism virilization temporal hair loss elevated testosterone ovarian steroid cell tumor adnexal mass total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy hair loss testosterone ovarian tumor hysterectomy oophorectomy

TLDR Surgical removal of a rare ovarian tumor improved symptoms and hormone levels in a postmenopausal woman.

This case study describes a 62-year-old postmenopausal woman with hyperandrogenism caused by a rare ovarian steroid cell tumor, which constitutes less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. The patient presented with symptoms such as hirsutism, virilization, and temporal hair loss, alongside elevated testosterone levels and a large adnexal mass. Surgical intervention, including total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, led to symptom improvement and normalization of lab values. The study emphasizes the importance of considering steroid cell tumors in cases of polycythemia with hyperandrogenism for timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent irreversible virilization and mitigate malignant risks. The prognosis is generally favorable with surgical resection.

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