Ovary: Sex Cord Stromal Neoplasms

Abstract

This group of neoplasms includes all those which contain granulosa cells, thecal cells, Sertoli cells or Leydig cells, either singly or in any combination. Both granulosa and Sertoli cells are believed to be derived from the primitive sex cords of the embryonic gonad, and it is thought that in the postnatal ovary undifferentiated cells of sex cord origin retain a bisexual potentiality and can give rise to either granulosa or Sertoli cell neoplasms, these tumours being homologues of each other. Neoplasia of these cells is often accompanied by a stromal reaction which in the case of granulosa cell tumours may add a thecomatous element to the neoplasm, and which in the case of Sertoli cell tumours often shows Leydig cell differentiation. Stromal cells may themselves become neoplastic and can evolve into either thecomata or Leydig cell tumours.