Fast intraoperative testosterone assay confirms the location of an ovarian virilizing tumor in a young girl.

Abstract

The detection of testosterone-producing ovarian tumors in childhood and adolescence by imaging techniques only can be difficult because of the tumors' radiological structure and sometimes diminutive size. We describe an 11.5-year-old girl with a 9-month history of voice deepening, mild hirsutism, minor acne, increased growth velocity, weight gain, and clitoromegaly. Laboratory investigation revealed an extremely elevated serum testosterone level without any additional endocrine abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasound and MRI showed a sparsely noticeable solid mass in the center of the right ovary. At laparotomy, blood was selectively drawn from the right and the left ovarian veins. Rapid testosterone measurement revealed a 70-fold higher testosterone concentration in the right ovarian vein within 45 min. Based on this finding, a right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The patient's postoperative testosterone level declined within 24 h. The histopathological diagnosis was Leydig cell tumor. In conclusion, the implementation of a fast intraoperative testosterone assay enabled the localization and curative therapy of a Leydig cell tumor. This technique seems to be a good alternative to preoperative selective venous blood sampling when body imaging does not unveil the tumor's site.

• Authors: R Braun, A Peter, S Warmann, J Fuchs, G Binder
• Journal: Hormone research in paediatrics (Horm Res Paediatr) Vol. 79 Issue 2 Pg. 110-3 ( 2013) ISSN: 1663-2826 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22832040 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Testosterone

Topics

• Child
• Female
• Hirsutism (blood, surgery)
• Humans
• Intraoperative Care
• Laparoscopy
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood, surgery)
• Ovariectomy
• Testosterone (blood)