Serum MIS values have been reported to be elevated in patients with ovarian tumors such as granulosa cell tumors (GCT), sex cord tumors with annular tubules (SCTAT), and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. We hypothesized that MIS determination would aid in the diagnosis and treatment of girls with ovarian tumors. Therefore, we measured MIS concentrations in 19 girls with these types of tumors. Clinical information on presentation was available for 10 girls, and included abdominal mass or pain in three girls and precocious puberty in 7 of 8 prepubertal girls (88%). All patients were treated with surgical removal of the tumor. Nine of twelve (75%) patients had an elevated pre-operative MIS value (see table). Post-operative serum MIS concentration was measured in 16 patients and was normal in all.

Table 1 No caption available.
Full size table

In conclusion, we found that a high percentage of girls with granulosa cell tumors, sex cord tumors with annular tubules, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors had elevated serum MIS values. Therefore, measurement of serum MIS concentration may be helpful diagnostically in identifying ovarian tumors in girls with non-centrally mediated precocious puberty. Because MIS values fell to the normative range postoperatively in all of our patients, follow-up determination of MIS may be useful in evaluating the completeness of surgical excision of these tumors.