Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour of the ovary--a rare cause of virilization after menopause.

A case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour of the ovary causing virilization in a postmenopausal woman is presented. The patient had increasing facial hair growth, deepening of the voice, a dull pain in the lower part of the abdomen and enlargement of the clitoris. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated level of plasma testosterone. Considering an ovarian tumour the most likely cause of the above-mentioned findings, hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Both ovaries were macroscopically normal at operation, but pathological examination revealed a small well-differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in the left ovary. Follow-up 3 months later showed decreasing signs of virilization and normalization of the hormone levels.