Hormone-related tumors in transsexuals receiving treatment with cross-sex hormones.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of development of hormone-related tumors in transsexuals receiving treatment with cross-sex hormones. Design Description of cases of transsexuals who have developed a hormone-related malignancy observed in their own clinic or reported in the literature. Recommendations for early diagnosis and prevention are presented.


METHODS
Review of the literature in PubMed.


RESULTS
In male-to-female transsexuals receiving estrogen administration, lactotroph adenomas, breast cancer, and prostate cancer have been reported. In female-to-male transsexuals receiving treatment with testosterone, a single case of breast carcinoma and several cases of ovarian cancer have been reported. So far endometrial cancer has not been encountered though it remains a potential malignant development.


CONCLUSIONS
There are so far only a few cases of hormone-related cancer in transsexuals. There may be an underreporting. The probability of a hormone-related tumor increases with the duration of exposure to cross-sex hormones and the aging of the population of transsexuals.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstr. 21-23, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Andreas
A
Mueller
Louis
L
Gooren
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000188:drug therapy*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones