Stein-Leventhal syndrome complicated by endometrial carcinoma: a case report

A case of Stein-Leventhal syndrome is reported in a 37 year old Melanesian female. Endometrial carcinoma developed necessitating hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The syndrome is due to disordered hormone synthesis in the ovary which results in excessive production of androstenedione and testosterone. The treatment of choice is patients wishing to conceive is to administer clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation. For remaining patients, hysterectomy and oophorectomy is preferred to wedge resection of the ovaries in order to prevent the risk of endometrial carcinoma, and as the latter operation has high rates of surgical complications with relatively few patients achieving regular ovulation.