Testicular vein and peripheral vein testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin concentrations in a patient with androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (testicular feminization) is classically diagnosed by history, physical examination, karyotype and ultimately exploratory laparotomy. In this case, the diagnosis was verified by amenorrhea, female phenotype, Barr body negative buccal smear, and finally, exploratory laparotomy which revealed bilateral abdominal testes. Testicular vein blood samples obtained at the time of surgery were analyzed for testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin and compared to peripheral vein blood samples. The testosterone concentration in the testicular vein was twice the concentration in the peripheral sample, reflecting gonadal function. The other testicular vein hormone concentrations mirrored the peripheral vein concentrations.