A Rare Cause of Postmenopausal Hyperandrogenism

January 2021 in “ Case Reports ”

Maarten De Vis, Stefanie Brock, Stefan Cosyns, Brigitte Velkeniers

androgenic alopecia hyperandrogenism serum testosterone cystic ovarian mass mucinous cystadenoma bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy virilisation postmenopausal hyperandrogenism male pattern hair loss testosterone ovarian cyst benign ovarian tumor surgical removal

TLDR A 71-year-old woman developed male-like features due to high testosterone levels caused by a benign ovarian tumor, which was successfully removed by surgery.

A 71-year-old postmenopausal woman experienced rapid androgenic alopecia, clitoromegaly, and male pattern pubic hair growth due to significantly elevated serum testosterone levels of 3.35 µg/L (normal range, <0.4 µg/L). An MRI showed a 4x4 cm cystic ovarian mass, which was identified as a mucinous cystadenoma, a benign ovarian neoplasm, after a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Postoperative testosterone levels normalized quickly. This is the sixth reported case of a mucinous cystadenoma causing virilisation in postmenopausal women, reinforcing the association between this benign ovarian tumor type and severe, rapidly progressive hyperandrogenism during menopause. The effective treatment in this case was surgical resection.

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research A Rare Cause of Postmenopausal Hyperandrogenism

January 2021 in “Case Reports”

A 71-year-old woman developed male-like features due to high testosterone levels caused by a benign ovarian tumor, which was successfully removed by surgery.