RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Ectopic hormone production by ovarian neoplasms
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 249
OP 256
DO 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-199607000-00001
VO 6
IS 4
A1 A. Shushan
A1 S. Mor-Yosef
YR 1996
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/6/4/249.abstract
AB Ovarian neoplasms, producing ectopic hormones, other than struma ovarii, are extremely rare. We review such tumors that have been reported in the world's literature during the last 15 years. Most patients presented with a clinical picture which was typical of the excess hormone produced. The clinical syndromes associated with ovarian neoplasms are: the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, hypercalcemia, Cushing's syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, hypertension related to renin or aldosterone production, and ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin. The clinical characteristics of these patients, as well as the pathologic findings, are described. In most of these cases the tumor was not localized preoperatively and the patients underwent unnecessary extensive operative procedures. Regardless of benign or malignant histology, complete excision of the tumor practically offers cure to these patients. Although rare, the possibility of ectopic hormone production by ovarian neoplasms should be kept in mind when investigating a patient with a nonlocalized hormone-secreting tumor. A review of ovarian neoplasms producing ectopic hormones is herein presented along with the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas characterizing this entity.