title: [Hirsutism].
abstract: The presence of terminal hair with a male pattern of distribution in a women is called hirsutism, and is either due to increased androgen production or to increased sensitivity of the hair follicle to androgens. In more than 95% of cases, it is a benign condition, generally a polycystic ovarian syndrome. When there is no evidence of oligo-anovulation and androgen levels are normal, the diagnosis of idiopathic hirsutism is given. In both situations, treatment is threefold: 1) inhibition of androgen production; 2) inhibition of androgen action and 3) a local treatment. The brisk apparition and extension of hirsutism, together with signs of virilisation and high levels of circulating androgens, suggest the presence of a tumor, extremely rare, but almost always malignant.
authors.affiliation: Service d'endocrinologie, diabétologie et nutrition, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 1211 Geneve 14.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Rouiller
mesh_terms: D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications