Direct evidence on the efficacy of GnRH agonist in recurrent steroid cell tumor-not otherwise specified

BACKGROUND: Steroid cell tumor (SCT) not otherwise specified (NOS) is rare and recurrence and metastasis rarely occurs; therefore, reports regarding its treatment are limited. We report a case of recurrent SCT-NOS treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and successful. CASE: A 50-year-old woman underwent a staging laparotomy and diagnosed as SCT-NOS. Multiple liver tumors and intraperitoneal dissemination were detected 5 years 10 months after the initial surgery. As the immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for GnRH receptor, GnRHa was attempted. After the first cycle the serum testosterone level was normalized and after six cycles CT scan confirmed reduction of the tumor size. CONCLUSION: Some ovarian SCT-NOS have GnRH receptors; thus, GnRHa may have a reducing effect for these tumors without major adverse event.