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A premenopausal woman with virilization secondary to an ovarian Leydig cell tumor

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 7, pages 240–245 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background. A 33-year-old woman presented to an endocrinology clinic with a 5-year history of secondary amenorrhea. 2 years before presentation, she had noticed progressively worsening signs of virilization.

Investigations. Measurement of levels of serum free and total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and gonadotropins; transvaginal ultrasonography, abdominal and pelvic MRI and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging.

Diagnosis. Virilization secondary to an ovarian Leydig cell tumor.

Management. The patient underwent a left salpingo-oophorectomy that confirmed the diagnosis of a unilateral Leydig cell tumor. Complete normalization of androgens and gonadotropin levels was achieved after surgery.

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Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4: Morphological and immunohistochemical studies performed on the ovarian Leydig cell tumor specimen.

Change history

  • 15 February 2011

    In the version of this article initially published online, there was an error in the legend of Figure 4. The magnification of Figure 4a should have read 200× instead of 20× and the magnification of Figure 4b should have read 400× instead of 40×. The error has been corrected in all electronic versions of the text

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Acknowledgements

Written consent for publication was obtained from the patient. We would like to acknowledge Manuel Faria and Malebranche B. C. da Cunha Neto for kindly reviewing this manuscript and Henrique Moura for gently editing and providing the pathology images.

C. P. Vega, University of California, Irvine, CA, is the author of and is solely responsible for the content of the learning objectives, questions and answers of the MedscapeCME-accredited continuing medical education activity associated with this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

    André M. Faria, Ricardo V. Perez, José A. M. Marcondes, Daniel S. Freire & Maria A. A. Pereira

  2. Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

    Roberto Blasbalg

  3. Department of Gynecology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

    Sylvia A. Y. Hayashida

  4. Department of Pathology, Avenida Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, Avenida Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 155, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

    Kleber Simões

  5. and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital das Clínicas, Heart Institute, Avenida Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 44, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

    José Soares Jr

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Contributions

A. M. Faria, R. V. Perez, J. A. M. Marcondes, D. S. Freire and S. A. Y. Hayashida researched data for the article. A. M. Faria, J. A. M. Marcondes, R. Blasbalg, J. Soares Jr, K. Simões, S. A. Y. Hayashida and M. A. A. Pereira provided a substantial contribution to discussion of the content. A. M. Faria, R. V. Perez, J. A. M. Marcondes, D. S. Freire and K. Simões wrote the article. A. M. Faria, J. A. M. Marcondes and M. A. A. Pereira reviewed/edited the manuscript before submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to André M. Faria.

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Faria, A., Perez, R., Marcondes, J. et al. A premenopausal woman with virilization secondary to an ovarian Leydig cell tumor. Nat Rev Endocrinol 7, 240–245 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2011.15

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