IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 30 / Issue 4 / pii/2003062

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Case Report

Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary with functioning stroma and virilization in pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

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1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, “G. Chatzikosta” General State Hospital, Ioannina, District National Health System, Epirus, Joannina (Greece)
2 Department of Pathology, “G. Chatzikosta” General State Hospital, Ioannina, District National Health System, Epirus, Joannina (Greece)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2003, 30(4), 248–252;
Published: 10 December 2003
Abstract

Virilization caused by ovarian tumors with functioning stroma during pregnancy is extremely rare and has been reported in many ovarian tumors. In mucinous cystadenomas with maternal virilization during pregnancy the stromal cells responsible for the hormone secretion resemble lutein or Leydig cells and have been referred to as luteinized stromal cells. We present a case of a 30-year-old, gravida 2, para 1, woman who presented at approximately the 38th week of pregnancy with features of virilization. At the same time, a cesarean section was performed because of fetal distress and a male weighing 3,030 g without any gross abnormalities was deliv­ered. A large tumor of the right ovary was detected and a right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histopathologically, the tumor proved to be a benign mucinous cystadenoma. Masses typically resembling lutein stromal cells or Leydig cells of the testes or ovarian hilus were found in the wall of the cyst below the mucinous epithelium. No crystalloids of Reinke were identified. The stromal component of the tumor was characterized as functioning stroma with luteinized stromal cells. The glandular mucinous epithelium showed focal positivity for human chorionic gonadotrophin. The cytoplasm of the luteinized stromal cells reacted strongly and diffusely with antiserum for vimentin. Also, the cytoplasm of the luteinized stromal cells showed focal intense positivity for synaptophysin, and focal mild positivity for human chorionic gonadotrophin. Staining results for oestrogen and proges­terone receptors were negative. In conclusion, we present an unusual case of clinical virilization during pregnancy associated with an ovarian mucinous cystadenoma with functioning stroma. The virilizing manifestations disappeared after removal of the ovarian neoplasm, supporting the perception that the functioning ovarian stroma was responsible for the androgen production.

Keywords
Virilization
Pregnancy
Leydig cell hyperplasia
Functioning ovarian stroma
Luteinization
Hilar cell hyperplasia
Mucinous ovarian cystadenoma
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