Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour: a rare cause of androgenic alopecia in post-menopausal women

Abstract

Objective: Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour (SLCT) is a rare ovarian tumour often detected in young females between the ages of 20 and 30 years who usually presents with virilising features. We are describing an unusual case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in a 57 year old postmenopausal woman who presented with progressive male pattern hair loss. She had high testosterone levels with poor response to medical therapy and underwent bilateral oophorectomy. Histology showed a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in the right ovary with benign characteristics and surgery resulted in an almost complete cure for the patient. Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism 2012; 2: 111-113 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sjdem.v2i2.4782

Keywords

• sertoli-leydig cell tumour
• ovarian tumour
• postmenopausal women
• hyperandrogenism
• alopecia