Excessive estradiol secretion in polycystic ovarian disease.
Polycystic ovarian disease is both a hyperestrogenic and a hyperandrogenic syndrome, and all studies have shown that hyperestrogenemia is the result of an elevation of estrone with plasma estradiol levels in the normal follicular range. Because a literature search failed to reveal any report of polycystic ovarian disease with significantly elevated estradiol levels, we report a case in which the plasma estradiol was so massively elevated as to mimic an estrogen-producing neoplasm. This case also suggests that although polycystic ovarian disease is a very rare cause of such excessive estradiol production, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of estrogen-producing neoplasms.
Benjamin
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY 11432.
Toles
A W
AW
Seltzer
V L
VL
Deutsch
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D004958:Estradiol