Virilisation in a case of transitional cell carcinoma of the ovary.

A 52 year old woman presented with a five month history of emotional changes, voice changes, and of abdominal discomfort. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological examinations showed evidence of virilisation, raised testosterone, and a complex ovarian mass. Microscopy of the resection specimen showed the tumour to be a transitional cell carcinoma of the ovary with luteinisation and hyperplasia of the intervening stromal cells. This is a unique case of virilisation caused by transitional cell carcinoma of the ovary. Theories as to the origin of testosterone production in non-functioning ovarian tumours are discussed.