by EBSCO Medical Review Board
(Androblastoma; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor of the Ovary)

Definition

An arrhenoblastoma is a rare type of ovarian tumor. The tumor cells release a male sex hormone called testosterone.

Arrhenoblastoma
Ovarian Cancer
Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Causes

The cause is not known.

Risk Factors

This health problem can happen in girls and women of all age groups. However, it is more common in women between 20 and 30 years of age.

Symptoms

In many women, irregular or absent menstrual periods are the only symptom.

In others, the male hormones released by the tumor may cause:

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.

Blood tests will be done to check hormone levels.

Images may be taken of the pelvis. This can be done with ultrasound .

Pelvic Ultrasound
Pelvic Ultrasound
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Treatment

Surgery will be done to remove the tumor. Cancer that has spread may also be treated with:

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent this health problem.

RESOURCES

The Endocrine Society  http://www.endo-society.org 

Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance  https://ocrfa.org 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Cancer Society  https://www.cancer.ca 

Ovarian Cancer Canada  http://www.ovariancanada.org 

References

Colombo N, Parma G, et al. Management of ovarian stromal cell tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2007;20:2944-2951.

McCluggage WG, McKenna M, et al. CD56 is a sensitive and diagnostically useful immunohistochemical marker of ovarian sex cord stromal tumor. Int J Gyn Pathol. 2007;26:322-327.

Sachdeva P, Arora R, et al. Cell tumor: a rare ovarian neoplasm. Gynecologic Endocrinology. 2008;24(4):230-234.

Sertoli-leydig cell tumors. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center—National Institutes of Health website. Available at: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9967/sertoli-leydig-cell-tumors. Accessed February 23, 2021.

Types of ovarian tumors. Johns Hopkins Medicine Pathology website. Available at: https://pathology.jhu.edu/ovarian-cancer/types-of-tumors. Accessed February 23, 2021.

Revision Information