TITLE:
Ectopic Hormone Production from Ovarian Tumor: A Review
AUTHORS:
Masashi Hori, Hiroshi Takagi, Kazutoshi Matsunami, Satoshi Ichigo, Atsushi Imai
KEYWORDS:
Bioactive Substance Production, Ectopic Hormone Secretion, Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Carcinoid, Benign Ovarian Tumor
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.4,
March
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: Although ectopic hormone-production is uncommon complication, certain
tumors can produce symptoms due to the secretion of various bioactive
substances accompanied by the aberrantly located tumors. Because of the
potential for the ovary to act as a source of aberrant hormone secretion, in
the literature, ectopic hormone production from ovarian tumor includes
granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), parathyroid hormone-related
protein (PTHrP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), peptide-YY, gastrin and
insulin. All patients may present with syndromes of hormone excess. Failure to
localize the ovarian tumor preoperatively may be associated with a significantly
higher risk of subsequent unnecessary ablative procedures. Better
characterization of hormonal forms relatively specific for neoplasia may
enhance the clinical value of ectopic hormones as tumor markers, especially in
malignancies that are commonly associated with ectopic hormone production.
These circumstances may recommend complete preoperative evaluation of the
pelvis in female patients presenting with nonlocalizable endocrine tumors.