Youngest reported patient presenting with an androgen producing sclerosing stromal ovarian tumor

A Rare Ovarian Tumor: The Sclerosing Stromal You Do Not Expect-A Case Series in the Adolescent Population and a Literature Review

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare ovarian tumor arising from the sex cord-stromal cells that occurs mainly in young adults during the second and third decades of life and rarely in pediatric and adolescent populations. The objective of this study is to report three illustrative cases of SST in young girls who had undergone surgery at our clinic in or after 2009, and to perform a literature review of this rare ovarian tumor. A retrospective chart review of female patients aged <18 years with a diagnosis of SST treated in a tertiary pediatric hospital was performed. Furthermore, a 10-year review of the SST literature was completed. Three cases of SST at our institution were outlined. After reviewing the literature, 18 SST cases were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.4 years, and the reported clinical presentations were abdominal or pelvic pain and menstrual irregularity. Seven patients had abnormal hormone tests or CA-125 levels. In approximately 30% of cases, conservative surgery was performed, preserving residual ovarian tissue. In conclusion, some preoperative findings may help in suggesting the presence of SST. However, definitive diagnosis can only be made by histopathological examination. It is important to consider this tumor because, given its benign behavior, a conservative approach is preferred, particularly in this age group.

Imaging characteristics of ovarian sclerosing stromal tumor

Objectives

This study was designed to evaluate the specific imaging features of ovarian sclerosing stromal tumor (SST), improve its accuracy as well as the specificity of imaging diagnosing, and prevent overestimation of malignancy to reduce unnecessary surgical procedures.

Methods

Eight patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and six with computed tomography (CT) images were analyzed in this retrospective observational study. All the cases were confirmed by postoperative pathological examination as those of ovarian SST. Imaging and pathological features were also evaluated.

Results

All the 14 masses displayed cystic and solid components with outer surface of tumors contained a capsular and complete smooth rim. Eight tumors of MRI exhibited “lake-island” sign on T2 weighted imaging (T2WI). Two of the 6 CT cases displayed a flaky calcification. One case showed as a multiloculated cystic mass with irregularly thickened septae and the tumor wall. The solid components in other 13 masses were comb- or wheel-like enhanced. After injection of contrast agent, the solid components in 8 cases (57.1%) appeared as early enhancement, whereas the other 6 cases (42.9%) appeared as progressive enhanced, and the cystic components of all the cases had no enhancement in the whole course. Vascular flow signals or/and marked enhancement of the blood vessels were found in 12 lesions (85.7%). Pathological examination demonstrated pseudolobule patterns, round to spindle shaped cells, collagenous areas, edematous hypocellular areas and prominent vasculatures.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated that MRI with “lake-island” signs on T2WI and MRI/CT dynamic enhancement could potentially play a critical role in facilitating appropriate diagnosis preoperatively.

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary with masculinization, Meig’s syndrome and CA125 elevation in an adolescent girl: A case report

BACKGROUND

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is an extremely rare sex cord stromal tumor of the ovary. It was first reported and named in 1973. These tumors typically present with pelvic/abdominal pain and tenderness, a mass, and/or abnormal menses, but rarely present with masculinity in children and adolescents. Only 2 cases of these tumors have been reported in premenarchal girls, who demonstrated hormonal activity, with a history of the development of a virilizing female due to hyperandrogenism. Here, we report a case of a giant SST with obvious masculinity combined with Meig’s syndrome and CA125 elevation.

CASE SUMMARY

A 17-year-old female presented with a 7-year history of the development of masculinity and a 2-year history of amenorrhea. She had hirsutism, acne, obvious laryngeal prominence, and voice deepening. Physical examination showed a male suprapubic hair pattern and a 4.0 cm × 1.5 cm enlarged clitoris. Laboratory tests showed that the testosterone level was > 15.00 ng/mL (normal range: 0.14-0.76 ng/mL), and androstenedione level was > 10.00 ng/mL (normal range: 0.3-3.3 ng/mL). A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis was carried out and showed a large, solid and cystic, partly calcified pelvic mass in the right ovary measuring 27.1 cm × 20.0 cm × 11.0 cm, 15 cm above the umbilicus (to the level of the upper part of L1). Intraoperative findings at laparotomy revealed a large tumor arising from the right ovary. Approximately, 500 mL of pale-yellow clear liquid was found in the pelvic cavity. A right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining of the surgical specimen showed an SST of the ovary.

CONCLUSION

This report is remarkable as our patient was not only diagnosed with an SST of the ovary, which is extremely rare in this age group, but was the largest and most obvious reported patient with this tumor who presented with virilization. Therefore, gynecologists should be aware of this potential complication in adolescent girls with a mass in the ovary.

Update on adrenarche

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Adrenarche is the pubertal maturation of the innermost zone of the adrenal cortex, the zona reticularis. The onset of adrenarche occurs between 6 and 8 years of age when dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations increase. This review provides an update on adrenal steroidogenesis and the differential diagnosis of premature development of pubic hair.

RECENT FINDINGS

The complexity of adrenal steroidogenesis has increased with recognition of the alternative 'backdoor pathway' and the 11-oxo-androgens pathways. Traditionally, sulfated steroids such as DHEAS have been considered to be inactive metabolites. Recent data suggest that intracellular sulfated steroids may function as tissue-specific intracrine hormones particularly in the tissues expressing steroid sulfatases such as ovaries, testes, and placenta.

SUMMARY

The physiologic mechanisms governing the onset of adrenarche remain unclear. To date, no validated regulatory feedback mechanism has been identified for adrenal C19 steroid secretion. Available data indicate that for most children, premature adrenarche is a benign variation of development and a diagnosis of exclusion. Patients with premature adrenarche tend to have higher BMI values. Yet, despite greater knowledge about C19 steroids and zona reticularis function, much remains to be learned about adrenarche.

A 10-Month-Old Infant Presenting With Signs of Precocious Puberty Secondary to a Sclerosing Stromal Tumor of the Ovary in the Absence of Hormonal Elevation

Precocious puberty in an infant is an alarming and infrequent finding, making the differential diagnosis difficult for practitioners. Precocious puberty secondary to a sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) of the ovary is rare. We present a case of a child that began precocious puberty at 3 months of age including development of breast buds, pubic hair, growth spurt, and menarche 5 days prior to presenting to pediatric endocrinology at 10 months. She underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy which demonstrated a soft tissue mass occupying almost the entire ovary with a tan-pink fleshy cut surface. Histological examination confirmed a variant of SST. This case represents an extremely young onset of precocious puberty secondary to a variant of SST without hormonal elevation.

Mitotically Active Sclerosing Stromal Tumor of the Ovary: Report of a Case Series With Parallels to Mitotically Active Cellular Fibroma

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary is a rare neoplasm that typically occurs in the second and third decades of life. To date, all reported cases have behaved in a benign manner. In their usual form, these neoplasms exhibit scant, if any, mitotic activity. Herein, we report a case series of 6 sclerosing stromal tumors with increased mitotic activity (between 7 and 12 mitoses per 10 high-power fields in the most mitotically active areas). Follow-up is available in 4 of 6 cases (ranging from 3 wk to 68 mo) and 1 tumor recurred within the pelvis. We suggest that the term mitotically active sclerosing stromal tumor is used for such neoplasms and draw parallels with mitotically active cellular fibroma, another benign ovarian stromal neoplasm which occasionally recurs locally, but which does not metastasize.

Sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary: a comprehensive review and update for radiologists

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors are infrequent and represent approximately 7% of all primary ovarian tumors. This histopathologic ovarian tumor group differs considerably from the more prevalent epithelial ovarian tumors. Although sex cord-stromal tumors present in a broad age group, the majority tend to present as a low-grade disease that usually follows a nonaggressive clinical course in younger patients. Furthermore, because the constituent cells of these tumors are engaged in ovarian steroid hormone production (e.g., androgens, estrogens, and corticoids), sex cord-stromal tumors are commonly associated with various hormone-mediated syndromes and exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical features ranging from hyperandrogenic virilizing states to hyperestrogenic manifestations. The World Health Organization sex cord-stromal tumor classification has recently been revised, and currently these tumors have been regrouped into the following clinicopathologic entities: pure stromal tumors, pure sex cord tumors, and mixed sex cord-stromal tumors. Moreover, some entities considered in the former classification (e.g., stromal luteoma, stromal tumor with minor sex cord elements, and gynandroblastoma) are no longer considered separate tumors in the current classification. Herein, we discuss and revise the ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the different histopathologic types and clinicopathologic features of sex cord-stromal tumors to allow radiologists to narrow the differential diagnosis when facing ovarian tumors.

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary treated with 2-incision total laparoscopic cystectomy

•

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is an extremely rare benign tumor of the ovary and preoperative diagnosis of SST is difficult as it often mimics a malignant tumor.

•

SST occurs in young women.

•

Many cases of SST were treated by abdominal oophorectomy and laparoscopic surgery is seldom performed in SST cases.

•

We report a case of SST of the ovary in an 18-year-old girl who was diagnosed by preoperative imaging and underwent laparoscopic cystectomy.

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is an extremely rare benign tumor of the ovary that is derived from the sex cord stroma [1,2] and occurs in young women [3–11]. Preoperative diagnosis of the tumor is difficult as it often mimics a malignant tumor. Oophorectomy is usually performed in many cases of young women [3], and diagnosis of SST is made based on post-operative pathological examination. Laparoscopic surgery is seldom performed in SST cases. Here, we report a case of SST of the ovary in an 18-year-old girl who was diagnosed by preoperative imaging and underwent laparoscopic cystectomy. Accurate preoperative imaging helped to perform minimally invasive surgery for SST.