Bry-Gauillard Helene, Meduri Geri, Abirached Fadi, Constancis Elisabeth, Brailly Sylvie, Chanson Philippe, Young Jacques
Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Universite Paris-Sud 11, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
Fertil Steril. 2008 Oct;90(4):1198.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.11.064. Epub 2008 Mar 4.
To describe a patient with primary amenorrhea revealing an occult progesterone-secreting ovarian tumor.
Case report.
University medical center.
PATIENT(S): A 20-year-old woman with primary amenorrhea.
INTERVENTION(S): Investigations to identify the source of progesterone secretion.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Discovery of an occult progesterone-secreting ovarian tumor.
RESULT(S): Initial ovarian ultrasonography did not show any abnormal mass. Catheterization of ovarian veins suggested a right ovarian source of progesterone. After long-term follow-up, a right ovarian tumor became apparent and was surgically removed. After surgery, progesterone levels decreased and normal ovulatory cycles resumed. Pathologic and immunohistochemical analysis showed a Leydig cell tumor expressing cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage and 3ss-hydroxysteroïd dehydrogenase enzymes, which are involved in progesterone biosynthesis, whereas P45017alpha-hydroxylase was not expressed, explaining the absence of hyperandrogenemia. Before surgery, two LH pulses were detected during a 6-hour study period and a lack of ovarian response to pulsatile GnRH administration.
This is the first case of isolated progesterone secretion by an occult ovarian Leydig cell tumor and a novel etiology of primary amenorrhea. The results also suggest that sustained progesterone can exert an inhibitory effect on gonadotropin secretion at both hypothalamic and pituitary levels.
