The Use of Ovarian Vein Sampling to Lateralize a Virilizing Leydig Cell Ovarian Tumor

Leydig cell tumors are a rare androgen-secreting ovarian tumor. We present a patient with virilization symptoms secondary to a Leydig cell tumor, with nonrevealing imaging studies, that was localized using ovarian vein sampling (OVS).

A 56-year-old postmenopausal woman was referred by her gynecologist to the endocrinology clinic for voice-deepening, clitoral enlargement, scalp hair loss, and excessive body hair growth. Her total testosterone was 11.5 (0.3-1.3 nmol/L), bioavailable testosterone was 7.19 (0.1-0.6 nmol/L), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was 4.0 (0.8-4.9 μmol/L). Transvaginal ultrasound and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging showed no adrenal or ovarian masses bilaterally. On adrenal vein sampling (AVS) and OVS, total testosterone from the left gonadal vein was 780.0 (0.3-1.3 nmol/L) and right gonadal vein was 18.6 (0.3-1.3 nmol/L), with a left-to-right ovarian testosterone ratio of 41.94. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed, and a 1.0 cm Leydig cell tumor in the left ovary was noted on histopathology. One month after surgery, her total and bioavailable testosterone were <0.4 (0.3-1.3 nmol/L and 0.1-0.6 nmol/L, respectively). At 6 months, she had normalization of her voice to baseline, decreased clitoral size, decreased hair growth on her back, and improvement in her male-pattern baldness.

OVS and AVS are useful diagnostic investigation tools in cases of virilization, in which imaging is nonrevealing. Our case supports previously suggested left-to-right ovarian vein testosterone ratio of ≥15 being associated with a left-sided tumor.

Few cases have been published on the interpretation of AVS and OVS in the setting of virilization. Previously suggested ratios for lateralization were valid for this patient.