A testosterone-secreting, gonadotropin-responsive pure thecoma and polycystic ovarian disease

A 31-yr-old hirsute female with oligoamenorrhea since menarche had markedly elevated peripheral plasma testosterone (T) concentrations of 250-255 ng/100 ml (normal 20-60 ng/100 ml), which lacked a diurnal rhythm, were not suppressed by dexamethasone, were decreased by ACTH, and were massively increased to 2,530 ng/100 ml by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The binding capacity of T-binding globulin (TeBG) was 0.2 mug/100 ml (normal = 1.1-3.3 mug/100 ml). Plasma delta 4-androstenedione (A) was elevated at 374-681 ng/100 ml (normal = 90-135 ng/100 ml). Plasma estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) were normal. The endometrium was proliferative. A T-secreting tumor was suspected because the plasma T levels were higher than those observed in polycystic ovarian disease. Exploratory surgery revealed bilateral polycystic ovaries and a pure thecoma in the right ovary which was not visible on surface examination. The thecoma did not contain granulosa cells. Plasma T in the right ovarian vein, draining the tumor, was 28,200 ng/100 ml and in the left ovarian vein was 2,600 ng/100 ml. Plasma A was elevated in both ovarian veins: 11,170 ng/100 ml on the left and 8,360 ng/100 ml on the right. The thecoma contained 1.35 mug/g of T and only 0.014 mug/g and 0.007 mug/g of E2 and E1, respectively. Plasma A and T after bilateral oophorectomy and removal of the thecoma were normal at 184 ng/100 ml and 40 ng/100 ml, respectively.

1) This pure thecoma produced primarily T rather than E1 OR E2 and was gonadotropin-responsive. 2) A very high plasma androgen level in a female is an important clue to the presence of a tumor. A T-secreting tumor should be ssupected when the peripheral plasma T is over 250 ng/100 ml and when plasma T increases to over 1,000 ng/100 ml following hCG stimulation. 3) Tumors cannot be classified as estrogenic or androgenic on the basis of the character of the endometrium.