Postmenopausal Hyperandrogenism Due to Rare Ovarian Tumor

October 2024 in “ Journal of the Endocrine Society ”

Michael Salim, Sandhyarani Dasaraju, Youngjin Lee, Soha Afzal, Britt Erickson, Mahmoud Khalifa, Lynn A. Burmeister

postmenopausal hyperandrogenism alopecia testosterone androstenedione adrenal nodule ovarian vein sampling bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy Leydig cell tumors Brenner tumor hair loss BSO

TLDR Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy resolved hyperandrogenism in a postmenopausal woman with rare ovarian tumors.

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.

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