A gonadotrophin responsive testosterone producing adrenocortical adenoma and high gonadotrophin levels in an elderly woman

Abstract

A gonadotrophin response testosterone producing adrenal cortical adenoma in a 61-year-old woman is described. Oophorectomy was performed before adrenalectomy as at first an ovarian origin of excess and androgen production was suspected. The hypophyseal gonadal feedback system was studied after oophorectomy using LHRH before and after administration of ethinyloestradiol. After adenalectomy this study was repeated using ethyinyloestradiol at two dose levels and after premedication with testosterone. In this patient the LH feedback system behaved similarly to that observed in Klinefelter's syndrome and in patients with anorchia.