Postmenopausal mild hirsutism and hyperandrogenemia due to granulosa cell tumor of the ovary: a case report

摘要

BackgroundAmong classes of ovarian tumor, granulosa cell tumors are the least common. In approximately 10% of cases of granulosa cell tumor, androgen will be secreted which will present with hirsutism and hyperandrogenemia. We describe a woman with ovarian granulosa cell tumor who presented with hirsutism. Case presentationA 50-year-old woman of Amhara ethnicity, para III, abortion I (induced), presented with excessive hair on her face and lower abdomen of 4?years’ duration which affected her quality of life. Her menopause started 7?years ago. Her body mass index was 29.8?kg/m2. She had hair on her upper lip, chin, and lower abdomen; she had a Ferriman–Gallwey score of 10. A pelvic examination revealed that her uterus was of normal size and there was no adnexal mass. Ultrasound finding: her right ovary measured 5?×?4?cm. Her serum testosterone was 254?ng/dl; she was counseled to undergo an exploratory laparotomy but she declined. She presented to our out-patient department 10?months later with a complaint of excessive vaginal bleeding of 18?days’ duration. A sonographic evaluation showed a 12 by 15?cm right adnexal cystic mass. With preoperative diagnosis of testosterone-producing sex cord–stromal tumor of the ovary, an exploratory laparotomy was performed. The laparotomy revealed a 20 by 30?cm right ovarian mass with pathology result of adult granulosa cell tumor. ConclusionIn postmenopausal women with new hirsutism that is severe or rapidly progressive, the possibility of an androgen-secreting tumor must be suspected and a thorough evaluation is needed before initiating treatment for idiopathic hirsutism.