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Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 3/2018

01-09-2018 | Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine

Extraparenchymal ovarian and testicular Leydig cells: ectopic/heterotopic or orthotopic?

Authors: José L. Carrasco-Juan, Hugo Álvarez-Argüelles-Cabrera, Carmen Martín-Corriente, Ricardo Gutiérrez-García, Abián Vega-Falcón, Idaira Expósito-Afonso, Rafael Méndez-Medina, Lucio Díaz-Flores

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 3/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

We are conducting a prospective study trying to determine, in both sexes, the frequency of appearance of ectopic Leydig cells, their preferred location, their relationship with nerve structures and the possible causes of their appearance.

Methods

We have studied 86 cases that were removed according to different clinical indications for pathological study: uterine leyomiomas (n = 12), ovarian cystadenoma (n = 4), endometrial hyperplasia (n = 8), endometrial carcinoma (n = 12), cervical carcinoma (n = 4), seminoma (n = 4), fallopian tube ligatures (n = 24), vasectomies (n = 8), nonspecific orchiepididymitis (n = 2), and unknown (n = 8).

Results

We have observed ectopic Leydig cells in 13/86 cases (15.11%), 9/72 in the female samples (12.50%) and 4/14 in male samples (28.57%). The most frequent location was the mesosalpinx (4 of 13: 30.76%).

Conclusions

These high figures lead us to believe that the ectopia of Leydig cells is not really a pathologic entity, but a finding related to specific functions yet to be determined.
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Metadata
Title
Extraparenchymal ovarian and testicular Leydig cells: ectopic/heterotopic or orthotopic?
Authors
José L. Carrasco-Juan
Hugo Álvarez-Argüelles-Cabrera
Carmen Martín-Corriente
Ricardo Gutiérrez-García
Abián Vega-Falcón
Idaira Expósito-Afonso
Rafael Méndez-Medina
Lucio Díaz-Flores
Publication date
01-09-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4846-x

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