Hirsutism may be defined as the presence of terminal hair in the women, with a male pattern of distribution. The clinical presentation is variable, from isolated hirsutism to the presence of other signs of hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularities and/or infertility. Hirsutism is related to serum androgens and to the cutaneous sensitivity to these hormones. The most prevalent causes of hirsuti...

The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of the different pathological conditions causing clinically evident androgen excess and to document the degree of long-term success of suppressive and/or antiandrogen hormonal therapy in a large consecutive population of patients. All patients presenting for evaluation of symptoms potentially related to androgen excess between Oc...

Adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasms (oncocytomas) are extremely rare; only approximately 159 cases have been described so far. The majority are nonfunctional and benign. We describe an unusual case of a functional oncocytoma secreting an excess of glucocorticoids (cortisol) and androgens (androstenedione and DHEAS), a pattern of plurihormonal cosecretion previously not reported in men, presentin...

CONTEXT We undertook this study to estimate the prevalence of the various androgen excess disorders using the new criteria suggested for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). SETTING The study was performed at two endocrine departments at the University of Palermo (Palermo, Italy). PATIENTS The records of all patients referred between 1980 and 2004 for evaluation of clinical hy...

OBJECTIVE To describe the sources, production rates, circulating concentrations, and regulatory mechanisms of the major androgen precursors and androgens in women. DESIGN Review of the major published literature. RESULT(S) Quantitatively, women secrete greater amounts of androgen than of estrogen. The major circulating steroids generally classified as androgens include dehydroepiandrosteron...

Leydig cell tumors of the ovary account for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors (1). We present two cases in which patients had markedly elevated serum testosterone levels and frank hirsutism. Both cases revealed right ovarian Leydig cell tumors upon oophorectomy with post-surgical resolution of hypertestosteronemia. While rare and difficult to diagnose, androgen secreting tumors should be sus...

Pure androgen-secreting adrenal adenoma is very rare, and its diagnosis remains a clinical challenge. Its association with resistant hypertension is uncommon and not well understood. We present an 18-year-old female with a 10-year history of hirsutism that was accidentally diagnosed with an adrenal mass during the evaluation of a hypertensive crisis. She had a long-standing history of hirsutism...