VIRILIZING LIPOID TUMORS OF THE OVARY

A patient with lipoid-cell tumor (adrenal-like cell) of the ovary had elevated 24-hr urinary excretions of testosterone (69 μg) and epitesto-sterone (192 μg). Eighty percent of patients with lipoid virilizing tumors of the ovary (adrenal cell type) experience symptoms for longer than 1 year, and 50% for more than 4 years. The diameter of the tumor usually is not larger than 5 cm. Preoperative diagnosis often is suggested through careful evaluation of clinical data and confirmed by specific androgen fractionations. A diagnostic plan is presented to aid in distinguishing the ovarian causes of virilization from those due to adrenal etiology.