Central Precocious Puberty and Granulosa Cell Ovarian Tumor in An 8-Year Old Female

Abstract

Ovarian tumors associated with hormonal changes of the peripheral iso-sexual precocious puberty are of common presentation. We describe here a rare case of juvenile granulosa cell tumor in a female with central precocious puberty (CPP). An 8-year old girl with CPP presented with vaginal bleeding four months after the diagnosis and before starting treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-analogs. Suppression of basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level, elevation of serum estradiol, progesterone and Cancer Antigen-125 were documented. Abdominal ultrasound examination (US) and magnetic resonance imaging showed a pelvic mass affecting the left ovary. A left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and the mass was totally resected. Juvenile granulosa cell ovarian tumor was diagnosed. One month post surgery, estradiol and progesterone decreased to values of the first evaluation and FSH increased; Cancer Antigen-125 resulted normal while ultrasound pelvic examination showed absence of pelvic masses. In our patient, the tumor had grown very quickly since hormonal data demonstrated a CPP without any evidence of ovarian mass on US only four months before diagnosis. The overstimulation of the FSH or aberrant activation of FSH receptors may have contributed to the development of the mass.

Introduction

Ovarian tumors are rare in children and adolescents. Malignant ovarian neoplasms comprise approximately 1% of all childhood cancers and represent the most common gynecological tumors. Eighty percent are germ cell tumors and only 5-8% of cases are of sex cord stromal origin. Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) are a group of estrogen producing sex cord stromal tumors that account for approximately 2% of all ovarian tumors.^1-3 On the basis of histological characteristics and age of onset, these tumors are divided into adult type (95% of cases) and juvenile type (5% of cases). Precocious pseudo-puberty, vaginal bleeding and irregular menstruation are a common presentation of these tumors associated with hormonal changes.^1,2 We describe here a rare case of juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) in a girl with central precocious puberty.

Case Report

A Caucasian female with no significant past medical history presented with breast enlargement (Tanner stage B2) and pubic hair (PH2) at the age of 7 years and 9 months. At her first examination (8 years and 5 months), anthropometric evaluation revealed height 126.4 cm (50^th percentile), weight 32 kg (97^th percentile), and body mass index 20.3 kg/m² (75-90^th percentile). She had no headache or visual complaints and did not demonstrate any neurological signs; physical examination was unremarkable.

Endocrine evaluation revealed elevation of GnRH-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH peak ( Table 1); other hormonal levels, related to adrenal and thyroid function, were normal. Bone age advancement (SDS-BA 2.1), without growth spurt, was found. Tumor markers were negative.

Table 1.

Hormonal data and serum tumor markers at diagnosis and during follow up.

	At diagnosis of central precocious puberty	At diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor	Post surgery
Basal LH (mU/mL)	0.2	0.2	0.1
Peak LH (mU/mL)	6.4	n.e.	n.e.
Basal FSH (mU/mL)	2.3	0.1	0.6
Peak FSH (mU/mL)	13.4	n.e.	n.e.
18-β-estradiol (pg/mL)	10.1	65	4.7
CA125 (U/mL; n.v. 0-35)	9.1	74.3	8.9
Progesterone (ng/mL)	0.2	1.7	0.2
CEA (ng/mL; n.v. 0-5)	<0.5	0.5	<0.5
AFP (U/mL; n.v. 0-12)	5.8	5.4	5.8
βhCG (mU/mL; n.v. 0-5)	<2	<2	<2

LH, luteinizing hormone; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; CA125, Cancer Antigen-125; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; hCG, beta human chorionic gonadotropin; n.v., normal values; n.e., not evaluated.

An ultrasound examination (US) showed a pubertal uterus; the left and right ovaries were normal (Figure 1A).

Figure 1.

A) Ultrasound images of the ovaries at diagnosis of central precocious puberty. Ultrasound images (B), magnetic resonance imaging (C) and gross examination (D) of the ovarian mass.

Based on history and pubertal hormonal profile the diagnosis of central precocious puberty was formulated. After four months, during completion of screening tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hypothalamic-pituitary region and before starting treatment with GnRH analogs, the patient presented a vaginal bleeding without other symptoms or progression of pubertal development. Physical examination evidenced a palpable fullness in the pelvic region associated with increase in abdominal girth. Suppression of basal FSH level, elevation of serum estradiol, progesterone and CA125 were observed ( Table 1). Pelvic ultrasound demonstrated the presence of a huge lesion (13×8 cm) affecting the left ovary (Figure 1B). An MRI of the abdomen confirmed the US findings of a pelvic capsulated mixed mass (13×13.7×6 cm) arising from the left ovary (Figure 1C). The girl underwent laparotomy and a left salpingo-oophorectomy, and a complete mass resection was performed. On gross examination, the tumor originated from the left ovary that was substituted by a gray mass with solid and cystic components and hemorrhagic areas (Figure 1D). The microscopic appearance was characterized by a proliferation of the sex-stromal cells with high mitotic activity and low-grade cell atypia. Juvenile granulosa cell ovarian tumor was diagnosed. Her postoperative course was unremarkable. No chemotherapy or radiation was necessary.

The girl did not start suppressive therapy with GnRH analogs in order to permit a follow up without interfering agents. At one month post surgery, estradiol and progesterone decreased to values of the first evaluation and FSH increased; CA-125 resulted normal while pelvic ultrasound showed an absence of pelvic masses. Seven months after surgery there were no signs of re-occurrence of tumor. MRI of the hypothalamic pituitary region revealed the presence of a pineal cyst.

Discussion

Precocious puberty (PP) in girls is defined as the development of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of eight years. Two types of PP are recognized: central precocious puberty (CPP) and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). CPP is caused by early activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. It is usually idiopathic but secondary causes include tumors, infections, congenital defects, and radiation or injury to the brain. PPP does not involve the HPG axis. It is caused by release of estrogen or testosterone from abnormal organs and causes include gonadal tumor.⁴

Ovarian tumors are uncommon lesions in children. Their approximate incidence is estimated at approximately 2.6 cases annually per 100,000 girls, and malignant ovarian tumors represent approximately 1% of all childhood cancers.² The incidence of GCTs, which is a subset of sex cord stromal tumors, varies from 0.4 to 1.7 cases per 100,000 women. Only approximately 5% of all GCTs cases are of juvenile type and occur in pre-menarchal girls and young women.^1-3

The presenting complaints in patients with ovarian masses are non-specific, making diagnosis difficult. Acute or chronic abdominal pain and abdomino-pelvic mass are the most common initial symptoms. Endocrine signs (pseudo-precocious puberty, signs of virilization, vaginal secretions, irregular uterine bleeding) can reveal some secreting ovarian tumors.⁵ We describe a rare case in which ovarian JGCT occurred with vaginal bleeding four months after diagnosis of central precocious puberty.

Central precocious puberty has been previously reported in some girls with ovarian GCTs and in these patients the signs of puberty developed concomitantly with the mass or some years after its removal. Gonadotropin stimulation might play a role in the development of the ovarian tumors.⁶ In our patient, both hormonal data and US images demonstrated a CPP without ovarian masses only four months before diagnosis. Given this, the possibility that overstimulation of the FSH may have contributed to the development of the mass cannot be ruled out; stimulation of the ovary by gonadotropin might have a direct carcinogenic effect.⁷ In addition, even if activating mutations of FSHR were not investigated, the growth of ovarian tumor in our patient might have been caused by aberrant activation of FSHR.

Age, presenting symptoms, and size of the ovarian tumor are not predictive of malignancy, but imaging features and tumor markers are useful. US is the imaging modality of choice in cases of ovarian masses in children, particularly for the initial workup; the presence of more solid components in the tumor is a definite feature that predicts malignancy. CT scan and MRI are useful in cases of undefined mass if malignancy is suspected and before any surgery. They give additional information about the nature of the tumor and the presence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes and, therefore, increases the accuracy of the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy.⁸

The evaluation of serum tumor markers, even if these are often non-specific, is very important for the differential diagnosis in pediatric ovarian masses. The surgical management and approach will be based on test results and examination findings with the aim of preserving the girl’s fertility.^5,9,10 Tumor markers such as AFP, β-hCG, CA 125, CEA, CA 19.9 and inhibin could indicate the presence of ovarian malignancy ( Table 2).

Table 2.

Ovarian tumor markers.

Histology	FP	βhCG	LDH	CA-125	CEA	CA 19.19	Inhibin
Germinal tumors
Endodermal sinus tumor	+	-	+	+	-	+	-
Teratoma (immature)	+	-	-	+	-	+	-
Dysgerminoma	-	+	+	+	-	+	-
Embryonal CA	+	+	-	-	-	+	-
Chorio CA	-	+	-	-	-	+	-
Epithelial cell tumors	+	+	+	+	+	+	-
Sex stromal cell tumors	+	-	+	+	-	-	+

Thus, associating the marker findings to clinical symptoms together with imaging reports, intraoperative aspect and an eventual intraoperative histopathology are all recommended to promote a confident differential diagnosis.

Ovarian malignancy at any age is treated by oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy of the affected adnexa and surgical staging.¹¹ The prognosis of ovarian tumors in children is excellent if they are detected in an early stage.⁴ The risk of re-occurrence of benign tumors in the controlateral ovary is approximately 10% thus requiring regular ultrasound monitoring. Malignant tumors have a good prognosis for survival if treated properly.²

Conclusions

In conclusion, in our patient, JGCT was detected after the diagnosis of central precocious puberty. The pathogenesis of ovarian GCT is still unknown, but in this case the overstimulation of the FSH or aberrant activation of FSH receptors may have contributed to the development of the mass. The association between central precocious puberty and granulosa cell tumors might not be coincidental.