Hyperreactio luteinalis incidentally found in the second trimester of pregnancy with normal hCG levels: a case report

Abstract

Hyperreactio luteinalis (HL) is a rare entity in which both ovaries are multicystic and enlarged under the action of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), mostly seen in the third trimester of pregnancy. This benign condition is usually asymptomatic and doesn’t need any specific treatment, as the ovaries spontaneously reduce in size after birth. This is a case report of a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with hyperreactio luteinalis during the second trimester of her induced pregnancy. An ultrasound scan at 22 weeks of gestation revealed bilateral multicystic enlarged ovaries along with multiple fetal malformations and hydropsfetalis. Usually, HL is most commonly seen in situations in which there are high levels of hCG, but our patient had normal levels of hCG during all her pregnancy, which makes our case even rarer. In conclusion, the most important challenge when faced with HL is to differentiate between it and other differential diagnosis especially malignant tumors, because unlike them, this benign condition doesn’t need surgical treatment.