Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. A clinicopathological analysis of 207 cases

Am J Surg Pathol. 1985 Aug;9(8):543-69. doi: 10.1097/00000478-198508000-00001.

Abstract

The clinical and pathological features of 207 ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors from our consultation and hospital files were reviewed. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 75 (average 25) years. Seventy-five percent of them were 30 years of age or younger and less than 10% were over 50 years of age. One-third of the patients presented because of unequivocal evidence of androgen excess, and an additional 10% had a history suggesting androgen excess; most of the remaining patients complained of abdominal swelling or pain. At operation, 97.5% of the tumors were Stage I, 1.5% were Stage II, and 1% were Stage III. Both ovaries were involved in 1.5% of the cases. The tumors ranged from microscopic to 51 cm in diameter (average 13.5 cm); 15% of them were ruptured. Thirty-eight percent of the tumors were solid, 58% were solid and cystic, and 4% were cystic. The solid tissue was typically lobulated and yellow. On microscopic examination, 11% of the tumors were well differentiated, 54% were of intermediate differentiation, 13% were poorly differentiated, and 22% contained heterologous elements according to the criteria of the World Health Organization; a prominent retiform pattern was present in 15% of them. Follow-up was obtained for 164 patients. The tumor was clinically malignant in 18% of them. The prognosis correlated most meaningfully with the stage and degree of differentiation of the tumor. The high-stage tumors were all clinically malignant. All the well-differentiated tumors were benign, but 11% of those of intermediate differentiation, 59% of the poorly differentiated tumors, and 19% of those with heterologous elements were malignant. In a few cases radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of the two, in addition to surgical excision, was of benefit in the management of the malignant tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leydig Cell Tumor / pathology*
  • Leydig Cell Tumor / physiopathology
  • Leydig Cell Tumor / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Sertoli Cell Tumor / pathology*
  • Sertoli Cell Tumor / physiopathology
  • Sertoli Cell Tumor / therapy
  • Sex Characteristics