New onset alopecia and hirsutism in a postmenopausal women.
Recent onset of hirsutism in postmenopausal women is mostly caused by androgen secretion from adrenal or ovarian tumours. Ovarian hyperthecosis (OH) is a cause of hyperandrogenism in premenopausal women, few cases of postmenopausal presentation have been described. We report on a 73-year old women with androgenic alopecia and hirsutism of recent onset because of elevated testosterone levels. Radiologic imaging showed no tumours of the adrenal glands and ovaries. Careful re-evaluation revealed increased ovarian size in relation to age. Bilateral ovarectomy confirmed the diagnosis of ovarian hyerthecosis and led to improvement of clinical findings. It is important to review imaging findings as OH may elude imaging studies. OH should be included in the differential diagnosis of postmenopausal hyperadnrogenism particularly if androgen excess is of recent-onset.
Bühler-Christen
Annette
A
Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland. annettechristen@bluewin.ch
Tischler
Verena
V
Diener
Pierre-André
PA
Brändle
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D017698:Postmenopause; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone