TLDR A woman's severe male hormone excess was caused by a small, hard-to-find ovarian tumor.
The document described a case of severe hyperandrogenism in a 42-year-old premenopausal woman with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), who presented with symptoms such as frontal alopecia, voice deepening, and coarse facial hair. Despite multiple imaging tests showing no abnormalities, her testosterone levels were significantly elevated. The diagnosis was confirmed after an oophorectomy revealed a 1.8-cm Leydig cell tumor (LCT). This case highlighted the challenges in diagnosing small, androgen-producing ovarian tumors that may not be detected through imaging and underscored the importance of considering ovarian tumors in hyperandrogenic women when other causes are excluded. Post-surgery, her testosterone levels normalized.
2 citations,
November 2019 in “Case reports in women's health” Ovarian vein sampling helped diagnose rare ovarian tumors causing high testosterone, and surgery to remove the tumors lowered the testosterone levels.
5 citations,
October 2013 in “Endocrine” Blood tests can detect ovarian Leydig cell tumors when scans don't, and surgery can confirm and treat these tumors.
14 citations,
February 2016 in “Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research” Blood tests are needed to confirm high male hormone levels in women with PCOS, as physical signs alone are not reliable.
3 citations,
January 2012 in “Hanyang Medical Reviews” The document concludes that more research is needed to create suitable diagnostic criteria and understand PCOS in Korean women, and genetics may allow for personalized treatment.
85 citations,
June 2006 in “Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” The document concludes that hirsutism is the main sign for diagnosing hyperandrogenism, which requires a detailed patient history and physical exam.
1 citations,
April 1993 in “Problemy e̊ndokrinologii” Spironolactone effectively reduces symptoms of hyperandrogenism like hirsutism and acne.
