Postmenopausal Hyperandrogenism Due to Rare Ovarian Tumor
October 2024
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
Studysummary In this case report, the authors describe the diagnosis and management of a rare case of hyperandrogenism in a postmenopausal woman, attributed to coexisting ovarian Leydig cell and Brenner tumors, with improvement in symptoms following bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
A 66-year-old postmenopausal woman with a history of diabetes and breast cancer presented with worsening alopecia and other signs of hyperandrogenism. Laboratory tests revealed elevated testosterone and androstenedione levels. Imaging showed a stable left adrenal nodule, but no ovarian abnormalities. Adrenal and ovarian vein sampling indicated the ovaries as the testosterone source. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) was performed, revealing bilateral Leydig cell tumors and a left ovarian Brenner tumor. Post-surgery, the patient's alopecia resolved, and testosterone levels normalized. This case highlights the complexity of diagnosing hyperandrogenism due to rare ovarian tumors in postmenopausal women.
