Postmenopausal androgen-secreting ovarian tumors: challenging differential diagnosis in two cases

Abstract

Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism constitutes a very rare condition of tumoral or non-tumoral origin primarily residing either in the ovary or in the adrenal glands. We present herein two cases with this condition; one with abnormal postmenopausal genital bleeding and mild increase in facial hair, and the second with slow-developing hirsutism and virilization. Both cases shared a notorious increase in libido. The laboratory tests showed high levels of testosterone (>100 ng/ml). A normal value of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and a normal cortisol level at 9 am after 1 mg of dexamethasone administered at midnight (Nugent test) made an adrenal etiology very unlikely. On the other hand, a high level of inhibine B oriented to an ovarian source. Transvaginal sonography failed to demonstrate an ovarian tumor, but an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging detected an ovarian tumor and normal adrenal glands. A laparoscopic oophorectomy was performed, and the histological study demonstrated a steroidal cell tumor in the first case and a Leydig cell tumor in the second.