Virilizing ovarian tumor of cell tumor type not otherwise specified: a case report

Whereas ovarian tumors with overt endocrine manifestations account for less than 5% of all ovarian neoplasms, the incidence of virilizing type tumors in postmenopausal women is even lower since the average age of occurrence i s 43 years. Steroid cell tumors not otherwise specified (NOS) are even more rare. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman (age of onset of menopause 43 years) who consulted our service due to a hyperandrogenic syndrome: dee pening of the voice, temporal balding, hirsutism and cliteromegaly. Laborat ory findings indicated hyperandrogenism in male range. The dexamethasone suppression test did not modify, basal values, indicating that adrenal origin was unlikely. Transvaginal ultrasound disclosed multip le microcysts in the left ovary. Abdominal tomography was normal. Suspectin g an ovarian tumor, bilateral oophorectomy was performed and a pediculate, 3 cm in diameter, was encountered in the left ovary. Histopathological stud ies determined it to be a virilizing ovarian tumor NOS. Postoperative recov ery was fast; normal hormonal valves were reached together with visible cli nical improvement. This case is reported because this type of tumor is very infrequent in postmenopausal women, and because in this case it was the fu nctional hormonal test that allowed tumor localization.