Brenner tumor of the ovary with extensive stromal luteinization presenting in pregnancy: report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract

Brenner tumor in pregnancy is rare, with only two reported cases in association with intrauterine pregnancy. A 30-year-old woman, G1P0, was found to have an adnexal mass at 15 weeks of gestation. The mass was resected at Cesarean section and found to be a Brenner tumor with areas of stromal luteinization. Brenner tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses presenting during pregnancy. The stromal luteinization was probably related to the hormonal environment of the pregnancy.

Color Doppler Sonographic Features of a Brenner Tumor in Pregnancy

“…4,[11][12][13] A Brenner tumor complicating an intrauterine pregnancy is an extremely rare occurrence, with only 3 previous such reports. [14][15][16] As in our case, these reports described sonographic features similar to those described among nonpregnant patients. [14][15][16] Hata et al 17 used color Doppler imaging in the transvaginal sonographic assess-ment of a nonpregnant patient with a large ovarian LMP Brenner tumor and described a low peak systolic velocity similar to that depicted in our case.…”

Brenner tumor in pregnancy: Clinical approach and pathological findings

“…1d), which is most probably an effect of high levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin in pregnancy inducing these changes. 5 Stromal luteinization has also been reported in Brenner tumors of women who are not pregnant. 10 Such cells have been associated with estrogenic activity.…”

“…Of historical interest, the first Brenner tumor was actually reported in 1898 by MacNaughton-Jones. 6 Since 1907 when Brenner 7 described a tumor that he called 'oophoroma folliculare', but which afterward took his name, there have only been a small number of cases reported during pregnancy [3][4][5] (Table 1). Furthermore, even fewer cases of Brenner tumor related to abnormal pregnancies (ectopic pregnancies and spontaneous abortions) have been reported in the English-language reports.…”

“…2 The incidence of Brenner tumor in pregnancy is very rare, with only three cases during pregnancy in the English published reports. [3][4][5] Recently, during cesarean section, we incidentally encountered a Brenner tumor with an unusual structure of luteinization in pregnancy.…”