[Luteoma of the ovary during pregnancy (author's transl)].

The tumor of lutein cells of the ovary during pregnancy was first described by Sternberg (1963) as "luteoma of pregnancy". Up to 1973/74 66 cases were published. This benign tumor occurring only during pregnancy probably arises under stimulation of chorionic gonadotropin and may cause a virilization of the mother and female infant. After birth the ovarian tumors regress spontaneouly. Lutein cell tumors are usally discovered incidentally at laparotomy (cesarean section) in late pregnancy and require no radical surgical treatment. The feature of these tumors and some related questions are discussed on the basis of on own observation being, to our knowledge, the first case of this type in Central Europe.