Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience
Abstract Background A virilizing ovarian tumor (VOT) is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism in pre- and postmenopausal women. Although transvaginal ultrasound is considered as the first-line imaging method for ovarian tumors, it is examiner-dependent. We aimed to summarize the clinical and ultrasound m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-02057-z |
| _version_ | 1818355755750785024 |
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| author | Mi Zou Rong Chen Yahong Wang Yonglan He Ying Wang Yifan Dong Jianchu Li |
| author_facet | Mi Zou Rong Chen Yahong Wang Yonglan He Ying Wang Yifan Dong Jianchu Li |
| author_sort | Mi Zou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A virilizing ovarian tumor (VOT) is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism in pre- and postmenopausal women. Although transvaginal ultrasound is considered as the first-line imaging method for ovarian tumors, it is examiner-dependent. We aimed to summarize the clinical and ultrasound manifestations of VOTs to help establish the diagnosis with emphasis on those causing diagnostic difficulty. Method We retrospectively identified 31 patients with VOTs who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results Patients with VOTs were predominantly premenopausal. All patients showed androgenic manifestations with serum testosterone levels elevated to varying degrees. The tumor size of VOTs was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.001). The VOTs in the postmenopausal group were significantly smaller than those in the premenopausal group (median 1.8 cm [range, 1.3–4.8 cm] vs 4.5 cm [range, 0.7–11.9 cm]; P = 0.018). Twenty-seven out of 31 VOTs were successfully identified by ultrasound. On ultrasound, VOTs are mostly solid and hypoechoic masses with enhanced vascularity. Four VOTs (0.7–1.5 cm) were radiologically negative, and they were the smallest among all patients. Conclusion Patients with VOTs showed androgenic manifestations with varying degrees of hyperandrogenemia. Older patients tend to have smaller VOTs. Ultrasound is an effective method for the detection of VOTs. Some VOTs can be very small and difficult to visualize radiologically, especially in postmenopausal patients. Examiners must remain vigilant about very small VOTs on the basis of endocrine symptoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:46:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6bed19d33f64dac8856dfe3b69fe8e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1750-1172 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:46:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6bed19d33f64dac8856dfe3b69fe8e22022-12-21T23:33:33ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722021-10-011611810.1186/s13023-021-02057-zClinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experienceMi Zou0Rong Chen1Yahong Wang2Yonglan He3Ying Wang4Yifan Dong5Jianchu Li6Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College HospitalDepartment of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College HospitalDepartment of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeAbstract Background A virilizing ovarian tumor (VOT) is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism in pre- and postmenopausal women. Although transvaginal ultrasound is considered as the first-line imaging method for ovarian tumors, it is examiner-dependent. We aimed to summarize the clinical and ultrasound manifestations of VOTs to help establish the diagnosis with emphasis on those causing diagnostic difficulty. Method We retrospectively identified 31 patients with VOTs who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results Patients with VOTs were predominantly premenopausal. All patients showed androgenic manifestations with serum testosterone levels elevated to varying degrees. The tumor size of VOTs was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.001). The VOTs in the postmenopausal group were significantly smaller than those in the premenopausal group (median 1.8 cm [range, 1.3–4.8 cm] vs 4.5 cm [range, 0.7–11.9 cm]; P = 0.018). Twenty-seven out of 31 VOTs were successfully identified by ultrasound. On ultrasound, VOTs are mostly solid and hypoechoic masses with enhanced vascularity. Four VOTs (0.7–1.5 cm) were radiologically negative, and they were the smallest among all patients. Conclusion Patients with VOTs showed androgenic manifestations with varying degrees of hyperandrogenemia. Older patients tend to have smaller VOTs. Ultrasound is an effective method for the detection of VOTs. Some VOTs can be very small and difficult to visualize radiologically, especially in postmenopausal patients. Examiners must remain vigilant about very small VOTs on the basis of endocrine symptoms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-02057-zVirilizing ovarian tumorHyperandrogenismUltrasound |
| spellingShingle | Mi Zou Rong Chen Yahong Wang Yonglan He Ying Wang Yifan Dong Jianchu Li Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Virilizing ovarian tumor Hyperandrogenism Ultrasound |
| title | Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience |
| title_full | Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience |
| title_fullStr | Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience |
| title_short | Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients: a single tertiary center experience |
| title_sort | clinical and ultrasound characteristics of virilizing ovarian tumors in pre and postmenopausal patients a single tertiary center experience |
| topic | Virilizing ovarian tumor Hyperandrogenism Ultrasound |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-02057-z |
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