Diffuse luteinization of the ovaries associated with the masculinization syndrome

Ovarian hyperthecosis on grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound

“…Ovarian hyperthecosis is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism. In 1942 Geist and Gaines described cases characterized by clinical evidence of masculinization and the presence of nests of luteinized thecal cells in an ovarian stroma1; Fraenkel gave the name hyperthecosis to this histopathological finding2. In 1949 Culiner and Shippel used the term ‘hyperthecosis syndrome’ to define the coexistence of the ovarian morphologic features with symptoms of ‘defeminization’ and virilization3.…”

An Interesting Cause of Hyperandrogenemic Hirsutism

“…Hyperthecosis is a severe form of PCOS and results from an overproduction of androgens in the ovarian stromal cells [ 20 ]. Women typically present with slowly progressive acne and hirsutism (e.g., excessive male pattern hair growth), and they are likely to be virilized [ 21 ]. Although the exact aetiology is unclear, some authors claım that hyperthecosis ın postmenopausel women originate from elevated gonodotrophin productions.…”

Pathogenesis of the Polycystic Ovary: Use of an Animal Model for Study

“…Polycystic ovaries are frequently found in patients with virilizing adrenal tumors and congenital ad renal hyperplasia. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Since most patients with hir sutism and polycystic ovaries do not have the frank virilization found in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a search in hirsute women for an attenuated 21-hy droxylase, 11ß-hydroxylase and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency has been made. Givens and coworkers 54 observed that ∆ 4 -androstenedione underwent diurnal changes in hirsute women that correlated well with the Cortisol rhythm and in creased significantly when stimulated with 0.5 units of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).…”