An Unusual Circulating Steroid Profile in a Virilized Postmenopausal Woman

In 2018, a case was reported of a 68-year-old woman who developed male sexual characteristics, a condition known as virilism, due to an ovarian steroid cell tumor. The woman presented with androgenic alopecia, clitoromegaly, and increased muscle mass. Laboratory tests revealed both ovarian and adrenal hyperandrogenism, with elevated levels of androgen precursors, similar to congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Imaging techniques confirmed a left adnexal mass, and a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of an ovarian steroid cell tumor. After the surgery, the woman's circulating androgen levels and their precursors returned to normal. The study concluded that a detailed anamnesis and physical examination are crucial for the correct diagnosis in a woman with hyperandrogenism, regardless of her circulating androgen profile.