A huge ovarian mucinous cystadenoma causing virilization, preterm labor, and persistent supine hypotensive syndrome during pregnancy

Benign Ovarian Tumors in Pregnancy: A Case Report of Metachronous Ipsilateral Recurrent Mucinous Cystadenoma in Initial Pregnancy and Mature Cystic Teratoma in Subsequent Pregnancy

Mucinous cystadenomas of the ovary are benign epithelial neoplasms that can grow rapidly during pregnancy. They may cause ovarian torsion, virilization, inferior vena cava syndrome, and even preterm labor and fetal growth restriction. Various theories exist regarding the pathogenesis of these tumors. One hypothesis suggests that they may arise from teratomas. Our case report describes synchronous mucinous cystadenomas and ovarian teratomas, as well as metachronous mucinous cystadenomas in patients with a history of ovarian teratoma. There has been no report of metachronous ipsilateral teratoma after previous mucinous cystadenoma. We present a 22-year-old female with a history of bilateral ovarian tumors in a prior pregnancy noted to have a recurrent ovarian mass on her left ovary at the time of cesarean section of a subsequent pregnancy. She had two prior cystectomies for metachronous mucinous cystadenomas of her left ovary, and a right salpingo-oophorectomy for the ovarian torsion in her previous pregnancy. On her current pregnancy, she developed a mature cystic teratoma of the remaining left ovary. The rapid growth and recurrence rate of these tumors highlights the importance of close surveillance of ovarian masses during pregnancy, even those that seem benign. In this case, a history of unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with multiple contralateral cystectomies did not appear to affect her fertility. Her future ovarian reserve is unknown, pointing to the need for adequate pre-operative counseling in similar cases of ovarian masses in pregnancy.

Virilization of a postmenopausal woman by a mucinous cystoadenoma

Objective

To describe the case of the most hyperandrogenaemic ovarian mucinous cystadenoma reported to date.

Methods

We present the clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings in a patient with an unusual diagnosis according to age and the clinical behaviour of the tumour, as well as a review of relevant literature.

Results

A 77-year-old women came to our consult because of fronto-parietal alopecia and an augmentation of the abdominal perimeter since 1 year ago. Clitoromegaly was observed during the physical examination. Hormonal analysis showed elevated testosterone and dehydroepiandrostenerone-sulphate levels (659 ng/dL and 1950 ng/ml, respectively), and imaging examination described an andexal cystic mass dependent on the right ovary. Pathological diagnosis was “mucinous cystoadenoma”. After surgery, clinical and analytical alterations were normalized.

Conclusion

Although ovarian mucinous cystadenomas are classically classified as “nonfunctional” tumours, they exceptionally can act as functional, and produce testosterone levels as high as directly secreting hormones or germ cell tumours.