Yonsei Med J.  2007 Feb;48(1):142-146. 10.3349/ymj.2007.48.1.142.

An Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor Causing Virilization and Massive Ascites

• Kim YT
• Kim SW
• Yoon BS
• Kim SH
• Kim JH
• Kim JW
• Cho NH

• KMID: 1093538
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2007.48.1.142

Abstract

Steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (NOS), are rare ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors with malignant potential. The majority of these tumors produce several steroids, particularly testosterone. Various virilizing symptoms such as hirsutism, temporal balding, and amenorrhea are common in these patients; however massive ascites is an infrequent symptom. A 52-year-old woman with the sudden onset of virilization and massive ascites presented for treatment at Severance Hospital. After clinical evaluation, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy and a complete surgical staging procedure. She recovered from the surgery uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital five days after surgery. We present here an unusual case of an ovarian steroid cell tumor, NOS, and a brief review of the literature regarding these types of tumors.

Keyword

Ascites; hirsutism; virilization; tumors; ovary

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The enlarged left ovary was smooth, had no external excrescences, and measured 5.5 × 7.5 × 4.5cm.

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  Fig. 2 Microscopic findings. (A) The cells show abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and no crystals of Reinke (H&E staining, 100 × original magnification). (B) Tumor cells demonstrate a diffusely vacuolated cytoplasm (H&E staining, 400 × original magnification).

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