hyperthecosis

The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian hyperthecosis are discussed here.

Hyperthecosis is hyperplasia of the theca interna of the ovary.

The clinical features of hyperthecosis are similar to those of PCOS.

However, women with hyperthecosis often have more markedly elevated testosterone, more hirsutism, and are much more likely to be virilized.

In acquired clitoromegaly, the main cause is due to endocrine hormonal imbalance affecting the adult women, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hyperthecosis.

Other names for this syndrome include polycystic ovary disease, functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, ovarian hyperthecosis, sclerocystic ovary syndrome, and Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

The term hyperthecosis refers to the presence of nests of luteinized theca cells in the ovarian stroma due to differentiation of the ovarian interstitial cells into steroidogenically active luteinized stromal cells.