Diagnosis of a small, androgenizing Brenner cell tumor in a postmenopausal woman aided by laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Rapidly progressive hirsutism or virilization in the postmenopausal woman raises the suspicion of an androgen-secreting tumor. Hormonal testing and imaging studies usually rule out an adrenal tumor. However, small, androgenizing ovarian tumors may not be detectable by imaging studies.

CASE: A postmenopausal woman presented with rapidly progressive hirsutism and elevated androgens. Imaging studies did not localize the tumor. Bilateral laparoscopic oophorectomy was performed, and a small, androgenizing Brenner cell tumor of the left ovary was demonstrated on histologic examination.

CONCLUSION

Because of the low morbidity associated with laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy, it may be reasonable to remove the ovaries of postmenopausal women who display virilization or rapidly progressive hirsutism and elevated androgens, even if imaging studies do not detect the ovarian tumor.