Ovarian thecoma in adolescent – a rare case of hirsutism

Abstract

The main goal of managing hirsutism in adolescent girls is to distinguish familial idiopathic hirsutism from endocrinological disorders such as PCOS and androgen-secreting tumors. The latter account for <0.02% cases and typically present with rapidly progressing hirsutism, virilization and elevation of serum androgens. Some rare benign ovarian tumors have a slow progression and long duration of symptoms before diagnosis. Ovarian thecomas typically occur in postmenopausal women but few cases have been reported in adolescence. Thecomas are almost always estrogenic; 10% of the luteinized forms are androgenic. They are usually clinically benign, although several have been reported malignant in literature.

Keywords

• Adolescent
• Hirsutism
• Thecoma