Malignant lipid cell tumor of the ovary: clinical, biochemical and etiologic considerations.

Abstract

ABSTRACT We have studied a patient with metastatic lipid cell tumor of the ovary. The tumor was responsive to HCG but not ACTH. Predominant urinary steroids were androsterone, etiocholanolone, pregnanetriol and pregnenetriol. Plasma levels of androstenedione, testosterone, 17–hydroxyprogesterone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone were increased. Most of the plasma testosterone (0.3 μg/100 ml) originated from plasma androstenedione (3 7mu;g/100 ml). From the pattern of blood and urine steroids we concluded that the important secretory product of the tumor was androstenedione. The question of the origin of this tumor was considered on the basis of its biosynthetic capacities and from a critical review of the literature. Despite many earlier statements, we conclude that this tumor has not caused Cushing's syndrome and that our studies and previous ones suggest that the origin of the tumor is the ovarian stromal cell.