[Virilizing ovarian tumor: the challenges of differential diagnosis].

SertoliLeydig cell tumor is a rather rare type of ovarian neoplasms belonging to the group of sex cordstromal tumors. This malignancy is characterized by androgen overproduction, which results in the so-called virilization and can be accompanied by various metabolic disorders such as abdominal obesity, disturbances of carbohydrate and protein metabolism, and high blood pressure. During differential diagnosis, it is important to identify the source of androgen overproduction. An androgen-secreting ovarian tumor needs to be differentiated from androgen-secreting adrenal tumor, ovarian stromal thecomatosis (hyperthecosis), and endogenous hypercorticism (the Cushings syndrome). In most cases, the SertoliLeydig cell tumor is associated with DICER1 mutation carriership. If a patient is found to carry the DICER1 mutation, patients relatives need to undergo genetic testing as the individuals with mutations in this gene have an elevated risk of developing a broad range of benign and malignant tumors (most of these tumors are relatively rare in the overall population). The awareness of this rare ovarian neoplasm among medical specialists (obstetriciansgynecologists, endocrinologists, and oncologists) is supposed to ensure timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of this disease.

[Molecular biological aspects of the pathogenesis of adenomyosis].

The review of literature concerns some aspects of the pathogenesis of adenomyosis in terms of occurring molecular biological processes. It pools the literature data on endometrial capacity to be plunged into the deep myometrial layers--the expression of adhesive molecules, endometrial proteolytic activity, angiogenetic factors, and apoptosis-proliferation relationships. Evidence for the metaplastic theory of the disease is also presented. Emphasis is laid on the characteristics of a subendometrial zone whose pathology plays an important role in adenomyosis.