A sex cord stromal tumour in a woman with XO/XX/XXX-mosaicism

Triple X syndrome and puberty: focus on the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis in a cohort of children and adolescents with nonmosaic triple X syndrome.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with retrospective analysis.

SETTING

University pediatric hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Fifteen prepubertal subjects (median age 9.0 years, range 6.9-11.9 years) with nonmosaic triple X syndrome and age- and pubertal-matched control group (30 girls, median age 9.1 y, range 6.9-11.6 years).

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

We evaluated FSH, LH, and E2 levels and performed an autoimmunity screening as well as a pelvic ultrasonography and an LH-releasing hormone stimulation test.

RESULT(S)

All triple X patients (with and without pubertal signs) showed a pubertal LH peak level that was significantly different from controls. Triple X patients showed increased basal and peak FSH and LH values compared with control subjects. However, the mean E2 level was significantly lower than control subjects. However, triple X patients showed reduced DHEAS levels and reduced inhibin levels compared with control subjects. Finally, triple X patients had a significantly reduced ovarian volume compared with control subjects, in both prepubertal and pubertal patients.

CONCLUSION(S)

Triple X patients showed premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator, even without puberty signs. Both basal and peak LH and FSH levels were higher than in control subjects, and E2 and inhibin levels and ovarian volume were reduced, which led to a reduced gonadal function. Other studies and a longitudinal evaluation is necessary to better understand the endocrinologic features of these subjects.

Molecular-cytogenetic characterisation of sex cord-stromal tumours: CGH analysis in sertoli cell tumours of the testis

Sertoli cell tumours (SCT) are rare and poorly explored neoplasias, and the genetic features of these uncommon tumours are largely unknown. Data about chromosomal aberrations in human SCT of the testis are very rare. We present in this paper the first molecular-cytogenetic study of SCT of the testis. DNA was isolated from paraffin-embedded tumour material from 11 patients with unilateral SCT. We used comparative genomic hybridisation to investigate changes in DNA copy number. The detected DNA imbalances showed variation from case to case, indicating a high genetic heterogeneity. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 9 of the 11 tumours evaluated, with 13 losses versus 14 gains. The most frequent aberrations detected were gain of chromosome X (5 of 11 cases) followed by losses of entire or part of chromosomes 2 and 19 in three cases. This study suggests a high variability in histomorphological and genetic patterns. Only gain of the entire chromosome X seems to be a frequent aberration in these tumours. Further studies of these tumour types are necessary to clarify the significance of chromosomal alterations in carcinogenesis of SCT.

Sertoli–Leydig cell tumours of the ovary and testis: a CGH and FISH study

We present two malignant cases of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours (SLCT) of the testis and one ovarian SLCT with benign behaviour. The DNA copy number changes affected chromosome 1, 8, 9p, 10, 11, 12, 16, 19, 22 and X. The present study is the first molecular-cytogenetic analysis of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours of the testis.

A case of torsion of a mucinous cystadenoma in triple-X syndrome with pure gonadal dysgenesis

Triple-X female characterized by primary amenorrhea and pure gonadal dysgenesis is extremely rare. We present a patient of triple-X syndrome who has not had menarche or the development of the secondary sexual characteristics. She had a hypoplastic uterus and streaked gonads on both sides with a twisted mucinous cystadenoma in the right adnexa.

Normal growth and normalization of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism in atypical Turner syndrome (45,X/46,XX/47,XXX). Correlation of body height with distribution of cell lines

A comparison has been made of a case with 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX mosaicism with some 50 cases in the literature. A significant positive correlation was found between height standard deviation scores of mosaic patients from the literature and the frequency of cells with a normal chromosome constitution (n = 21, rs = 0.552, P < 0.01). In contrast, a significant negative correlation was seen between body height and the frequency of cells with a 45,X constitution (n = 21, rs = -0.594, P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation of height standard deviation score with the 47,XXX cell line (n = 21, rs = -0.353). A patient with a rare chromosomal mosaicism (45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) is described. The diagnosis was first made by chromosome analysis in amniotic cells. The patient showed no symptoms suggestive of Turner syndrome and growth followed the 75th height percentile. Basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulated gonadotropin levels normalized after age 4.8 years and did not subsequently return to hypergonadotropic levels. In blood lymphocytes, there was an increase in the frequency of cells with a normal chromosome constitution over 9 years. This in vivo cell selection is discussed. Chromosome analysis in skin fibroblasts showed the same triple mosaicism with a similar distribution of cell lines as in blood lymphocytes. In conclusion, statistical evidence was demonstrated that the severity of short stature is correlated with the distribution of cell lines in 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX mosaicism. This finding is of importance for the genetic counselling in cases of prenatal diagnosis of mosaic Turner syndrome.