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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Richard Quinton
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© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism can be tumour- or non-tumour-related, with pathology residing either in the ovary or adrenal gland(s). The tempo of investigation is determined by the clinical severity of hyperandrogenism (presence/absence of actual virilisation) and degree of serum testosterone elevation. When clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism is severe, rapidly developing, or associated with hypercortisolism, screening for adrenocortical or ovarian carcinoma with cross-sectional imaging should be prioritised over detailed biochemical evaluation. Adrenal hyperandrogenism is readily characterised, both biochemically and radiologically. By contrast, even a combination of high-resolution imaging with laboratory evaluation, including dynamic endocrine testing, often cannot distinguish between ovarian hyperthecosis (OH) and virilising ovarian tumour (VOT); a definitive diagnosis usually emerging only after histological examination of excised ovaries. VOTs are typically below the resolution-limit of current imaging modalities and exhibit suppression of gonadotropin-dependent androgen secretion with GnRH-analogue therapy. Thus, for well-characterised ovarian hyperandrogenism, laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy may serve both as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Nevertheless, women unable or unwilling to undergo ovarian surgery can be reassured that malignant VOTs are exceedingly rare and that long-term medical therapy with oral antiandrogens or GnRH-analogues is safe and well-tolerated. OH is strongly associated with insulin-resistance, with hyperinsulinaemia acting synergistically with raised gonadotropin levels to stimulate thecal cell hyperplasia and androgen secretion by the postmenopausal ovary, which lacks granulosa cell aromatase activity and thus cannot convert testosterone to 17 beta estradiol. Thus, features of metabolic syndrome may indicate OH, and significant reductions in androgens can thereby potentially be achieved with lifestyle measures and/or insulin-sensitising drugs.
Author(s): Mamoojee Y, Ganguri M, Taylor N, Quinton R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Clinical Endocrinology
Year: 2018
Volume: 88
Issue: 1
Pages: 13-20
Print publication date: 01/01/2018
Online publication date: 07/11/2017
Acceptance date: 29/09/2017
ISSN (print): 0300-0664
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2265
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.13492
DOI: 10.1111/cen.13492
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