Ovarian and peripheral steroid hormones in a case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor

The clinical course, histology, and steroid secretion of a 59-year-old postmenopausal woman with a 4-yr history of virilizing well-differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the right ovary are reported. Hormone secretion was examined by measuring peripheral and ovarian venous gradients and pre-and postoperative levels of some delta 4 and delta 5 steroids, estrogens, gonadotropins and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin levels. The preoperative responsiveness to ACTH, dexamethasone and hCG is also reported. The results are consistent with a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor producing mainly testosterone and, to a lesser degree, androstenedione, progesterone, estrone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. The tumor hormone secretion may be in part responsive to hCG.