title: Hyperandrogenism in a postmenopausal woman: a rare case of ectopic adrenal cortical gland.
abstract: Most frequent causes of androgenic manifestation are Cushing's syndrome, PCO, benign and malignant androgen-secreting non adrenal tumors and iatrogenic hirsutism. Hyperplasia or neoplasms of ectopic adrenocortical gland are rare. We report a case of a 63-year old female with hirsutism and alopecia. Laboratory data highlighted increased levels of androgens. Diagnostic imaging revealed normal morphology of adrenocortical gland and ovaries. In view of the clinical picture and suspected diagnosis of extra-adrenal cause, she underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histologic examination showed an ectopic adrenal gland with adenoma in the ovarian and peri-ovarian tissue. At six months of follow up, the patients has no sign of hyperandrogenism. In case of hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal women and in the absence of the adrenocortical gland abnormality, ovarian origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine and.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine and.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine and.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giovanale
authors.affiliation: b Division of Pathology and Medical Oncology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine , Sant'Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rampioni Vinciguerra
authors.affiliation: b Division of Pathology and Medical Oncology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine , Sant'Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoppacciaro
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine and.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellati
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine and.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caserta
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012384:Rome; D058994:Salpingectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ectopic adrenal cortical gland; Leydig cell hyperplasia; hirsutism; hyperandrogenism