STEROID CELL TUMOR OF THE BROAD LIGAMENT ARISING IN AN ACCESSORY OVARY

Objective.-To determine the histogenesis of an unusual steroid cell tu mor that occurred in the broad ligament. Patient and Methods.-The tumo r occurred in a 29-year-old woman who had evidence of virilization. Th e preoperative testosterone level was greater than 700 ng/ dL, but it returned to normal after surgery. She was living and well without evid ence of recurrent tumor 1 year after operation. The tumor was examined using light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical stains. R esults.-The tumor was composed of polygonal cells with prominent eosin ophilic cytoplasm. No significant nuclear atypia or mitotic activity w as identified; however, the tumor was large, and necrosis and hemorrha ge were identified on gross and microscopic examination. A graafian fo llicle and a primordial follicle were present at the periphery of the tumor within the connective tissue stroma in one section, providing ev idence for the presence of an accessory ovary. A separate normal ovary was present on the same side. The tumor mass was connected to the sur face of the eutopic ovary by thin membranous tissue. Conclusion.-To ou r knowledge, we report the first case in the modern literature of an e xtraovarian steroid cell tumor arising in the broad ligament, and we p resent evidence supporting its origin from an accessory ovary.