AN UNUSUAL OVARIAN TUMOR CONTAINING AN ESTROGENIC HORMONE

Abstract

Löffler and Priesel¹have described a group of six tumors which, because of well defined morphologic characteristics, they concluded arose from cells in the ovarian stroma, representing the forerunners of the theca interna cells. More recently Melnick and Kanter²reported two additional cases and suggested, on hypothetical grounds, that these tumors contained an estrogenic hormone. These tumors occur most commonly in the postmenopause and are associated with atypical uterine bleeding. The latter symptom was believed to be due to the hormone activity of the tumor. In a later publication this tumor group will be more extensively discussed, but at the present we report a case of this type, the ninth case to be recorded and the first in which an estrogenic hormone was demonstrated in the actual tumor tissue. <h3>REPORT OF CASE</h3> Mrs. J. H., aged 21, had been married four years and never been pregnant.