Urogenital Imaging

Androblastoma, ovarian

tumour that contains Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and fibroblasts, in varying proportions and with varying degrees of differentiation. It is also known as Sertoli Leydig cell tumours or arrhenoblastomas. These relatively uncommon tumours, are usually small, solid, encapsulated and unilateral. Clinical presentation is generally due to the endocrine effects of the tumour, which include defeminization (breast atrophy, amenorrhoea, hair loss) and virilization (hirsutism, deepening of the voice, cliteromegaly); however, the endocrine effects do not clearly correlate with the histological type. For the most part these tumours pursue a relatively benign course. Even in more aggressive lesions, the prognosis is good if the capsule is intact. The incidence of recurrence or metastasis is under 5%. They often occur in young women, and in this case conservative treatment is indicated since bilateral occurrence is unusual. Chromosomal study is indicated in these patients. Karyotypes that demonstrate a Y chromosome suggest some form of dysgenesis and indicate that the opposite ovary is a prime site for development of a tumour as well. At ultrasound, CT or MRI, these tumours appear as nonspecific ovarian masses, and require clinicopathological correlation for definitive diagnosis.

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