AN OVARIAN STEROID CELL TUMOUR CAUSING VIRILISATION- A RARE CASE REPORT

INTRODUCTION: Steroid cell tumor of the ovary a very rare androgen secreting tumor accounts for less than 0.1% of ovarian tumors. These tumors may present at any age ranging from 2 to 80 yrs & associated with hormonal activity & virilisation. These tumors are most commonly unilateral, may be both benign or malignant, most of these tumors are usually diagnosed in early stages because of virilisation caused by these tumors. In an extensive literature search (medline & pubmed) from 1979, only around 80 cases of ovarian steroid cell tumors have been reported. As ovarian stromal tumors are infrequent, little attention was given to their response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A recent report stated gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist was effective in treating steroid cell tumors. Here we present the case of a rare ovarian steroid cell tumor in a 32 yrs old woman who presented with virilisation. CASE REPORT: A 32 yrs old woman with P2L1D1A1 presented with history of amenorrhea of 7 months duration, hoarseness of voice since 6 yrs, decrease in breast size since 6 yrs, lower abdominal pain which is dull aching type, coarse hair growth over the body since 2 yrs. She attained menarche at the age of 12 yrs. Her previous menstrual cycles were normal. Physical examination revealed male pattern of coarse hair distribution in the beard region, face, chest wall, abdomen, arms and thighs. Both breasts were small in size, no mass palpable per abdominally.