Publication

New onset alopecia and hirsutism in a postmenopausal women

Journal Paper/Review - May 1, 2009

Units
PubMed

Citation
Bühler-Christen A, Tischler V, Diener P, Brändle M. New onset alopecia and hirsutism in a postmenopausal women. Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology 2009; 25:324-7.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology 2009; 25
Publication Date
May 1, 2009
Issn Electronic
1473-0766
Pages
324-7
Brief description/objective

Recent onset of hirsutism in postmenopausal women is mostly caused by androgen secretion from adrenal or ovarian tumours. Ovarian hyperthecosis (OH) is a cause of hyperandrogenism in premenopausal women, few cases of postmenopausal presentation have been described. We report on a 73-year old women with androgenic alopecia and hirsutism of recent onset because of elevated testosterone levels. Radiologic imaging showed no tumours of the adrenal glands and ovaries. Careful re-evaluation revealed increased ovarian size in relation to age. Bilateral ovarectomy confirmed the diagnosis of ovarian hyerthecosis and led to improvement of clinical findings. It is important to review imaging findings as OH may elude imaging studies. OH should be included in the differential diagnosis of postmenopausal hyperadnrogenism particularly if androgen excess is of recent-onset.