title: Total testosterone levels are often more than three times elevated in patients with androgen-secreting tumours.
abstract: Hirsutism is present in up to 25% reproductive aged women and is most often caused by polycystic ovary syndrome. Less than 5% of patients with hirsutism are diagnosed with rare endocrine diseases including ovarian or adrenal androgen-producing tumours, but these tumours may be malignant and need surgery. Terminal hair growth on lip and chin gradually increases after menopause, which complicates distinction from normal physiological variation. Precise testosterone assays have just recently become available in the daily clinic. We present three women diagnosed with testosterone-producing tumours. Gold standard techniques were used to measure testosterone levels. All tumours originated from the ovaries. Based on the present cases and the existing literature, we suggest that androgen-producing tumours should be suspected in patients with rapid progression of hyperandrogen symptoms, particularly when total testosterone levels are above three times the upper reference limit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glintborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Magda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Altinok
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kresten R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravn
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone