title: Hormonal and seminal evaluation of Leydig cell tumour patients before and after orchiectomy.
abstract: Seven patients (aged 25-38 years) were admitted because of mono- or bilateral gynaecomastia. Plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, testosterone, 17-beta-estradiol, delta4-androstenedione, dehydropiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and 17-OH-progesterone were determined and semen analysis was carried out. FSH and LH levels were also measured after acute LH-RH administration (100 microg intravenously), and testosterone and 17-beta-estradiol were also evaluated after acute human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration (5000 IU intramuscularly). Testicular echography demonstrated the presence of a solid hypoechoic tumour. Therefore all patients were submitted to hemicastration by orchidofuniculotomy and a benign Leydig cell tumour was diagnosed in the removed testes. Hormonal and semen evaluations were repeated 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery. The data before and after surgery were compared with a control group of 10 age-matched males. Before surgery, patients showed low FSH basal plasma levels; high levels of 17-beta-estradiol and low testosterone levels similar to those after hCG administration. A dyspermia was observed. Unilateral orchidectomy eliminated the autonomous secretion of oestrogen(s) so an increase of LH, FSH and testosterone levels, together with an improvement of spermatogenesis, were obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zarrilli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paesano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rosa
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone