[Female pseudohermaphroditism. Mixed germ cell tumor of the ovary. A case report]

It is known as Pseudohermaphroditism or intersexual state, those entities in which external genitalia are ambiguous or are not according with gonadal o genetic chromosomic sex. They can have diverse etiology. Continual exposition to estrogens or androgens may induce female or male dysmorphism, and also development of benign or malignant tumors at target organs. We present a case of a young woman, 15 years old, with virilization, who attend medical consultation for progressive abdominal growing. The presence of ambiguous, genitalia since birth, was not a previous reason of concern. Diagnostic, findings, management and follow up for about 4 months are described and also a topic review. Genitalia develop during first trimester of intrauterine life, under influence of sexual steroids, and changes of sexual development can emerge as consequence of endocrine or morphologic disorders and the later ones, related to karyotypic abnormalities. Sexual steroid and their metabolites can demonstrate individually, different biological effects, suggesting the presence of individual receptors. The presence of cooperative effects between each steroid produce even more complexity to the evaluation of each steroid. Various mutations principally at gene receptors of sexual steroids, cause resistance to them. At female pseudohermaphroditism in difference from male P. there is no errancy at genetic gonadal transmission. These women are intrauterine exposed to excessive quantities of androgens, and they have normal internal genitalia but external ambiguous genitalia. The involved androgen comes from external factors, a it occurs at mother who receives progesterone to avoid abortion, but it is due frequently to androgen storage, caused by enzymatic blockade at steroidogenesis (adrenogenital syndrome).