Bilateral seminomas in a 45X/46XY mosaic with Turner's phenotype: an unusual case of mixed gonadal dysgenesis

A wide spectrum of phenotypic manifestations are seen in cases with 45X/46XY mosaicism. We present a case with 45X/46XY having female phenotype with Turner's stigmata. Prophylactic laparoscopic gonadectomy was performed and the patient was found to have mixed gonadal dysgenesis with bilateral gonadoblastomas. Microinvasive seminomas were also detected in both gonadoblastomas. The presence of Y cell line in karyotype prompted early and prophylactic gonadectomy, a procedure which is life-saving for these individuals.     

Morphology of the genitals in gonadal dysgenesis

The entity includes the Turner syndrome, the pure gonadal dysgenesis (Swyer syndrome), the asymmetrical gonadal differentiation, and gonadal dysgenesis of some forms of trisomy. The necessity of prophylactic gonadectomy in all patients with Y chromosome is stressed because of a close association with the arising of tumors in the dysgenetic gonads. The requirements are described of a successful substitution with steroids.     

Adnexal Torsion Due to Borderline Mucinous Tumor of the Gonad in a Prepubertal Girl with Mixed Gonadal Dysgenesis (45,X/46,XY) and a Turner Phenotype

BackgroundTurner syndrome (TS) is a sex chromosome condition characterized by complete or partial loss of the X chromosome. Patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (45,X/46,XY) and a Turner phenotype are predisposed to gonadoblastoma with malignant transformation.CaseWe present the case of a TS patient with 45,X/46,XY with 2 episodes of left adnexal torsion (AT). Biopsies during detorsion showed benign mucinous cystadenoma. Pathology following bilateral gonadectomy revealed a left gonad with mucinous borderline tumor and right gonad with gonadoblastoma, both of which have malignant potential.Summary and ConclusionGonadectomy is recommended in XY gonadal dysgenesis to decrease risk of malignant transformation from gonadoblastoma. Although rare in pediatric patients, ovarian malignancies have been identified among AT cases. To our knowledge, we present the first case of AT due to borderline ovarian mucinous tumor of the ovary and contralateral gonadoblastoma in a patient with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (45,X/46,XY) and a Turner phenotype.     

Gonadendysgenesie

In gonadal dysgenesis, differentiation of the primitive gonad to mature gonads is missing. The main symptoms include primary amenorrhea and missing secondary sexual development. To the gynecologist, pure gonadal dysgenesis 46,XX and 46,XY, mixed gonadal dysgenesis, and Turner’s syndrome are clinically important. In all patients with gonadal dysgenesis containing Y chromosome material (e.g. Swyer’s syndrome), removal of the gonads is highly recommended in order to prevent malignancy. The risk of malignancy in these organs is about 25%. Estrogen and progestogen replacement therapy is advocated at the onset of puberty for the induction of female sexual characteristics and prevention of the sequelae of chronic estrogen deficiency. Turner’s syndrome shows typical additional symptoms requiring an interdisciplinary approach, including pediatricians and internists.     

Turner syndrome with pseudodicentric Y chromosome mosaicism

The objective was to compare the impact of gonadal cell line upon the phenotype of a Turner syndrome patient with mosaic karyotypes. A 10-year-old female presented with typical Turner syndrome. Chromosomal analysis of lymphocytes revealed 45,X (16%)/46,X,pseudodicentric Y (p terq12::q12p ter) (84%). Karyotype of the gonads revealed 45,X (85%)/46,X,pseudodicentric Y (p terq12::q12p ter) (15%). Discrepancy of the individual cell lines between the lymphocytes and the tissue might exist. The phenotype of patients with mosaicism is related with the individual proportions of gonadal cell lines.     

Anomalies de structure du chromosome Y et syndrome de Turner

Although specifically male, the human Y chromosome may be observed in female karyotypes, mostly in women with Turner syndrome stigmata. In women with isolated gonadal dysgenesis but otherwise normal stature, the testis determining factor or SRY gene may have been removed from the Y chromosome or may be mutated. In other women with Turner syndrome, the karyotype is usually abnormal and shows a frequent 45,X/46,XY mosaicism. In these cases, the phenotype depends on the ratio between Y positive and 45,X cell lines in the body. When in mosaicism, Y chromosomes are likely to carry structural abnormalities which explain mitotic instability, such as the existence of two centromeres. Dicentric Y isochromosomes for the short arm (idic[Yp]) or ring Y chromosomes (r[Y]) are the most frequent abnormal Y chromosomes found in infertile patients and in Turner syndrome in mosaic with 45,X cells. Although monocentric, deleted Y chromosomes for the long arm and those carrying microdeletions in the AZF region are also instable and are frequently associated with a 45,X cell line. Management of infertile patients carrying such abnormal Y chromosomes must take into account the risk and the consequences of a mosaicism in the offspring.     

The importance of determining karyotype in premenarchal females with gonadal dysgerminoma: two case reports

Abstract. Gonadal dysgerminomas developed in two girls, aged 12 and 15 years. Both were initially treated with conservative unilateral gonadectomy. Forty-six, XY gonadal dysgenesis was not suspected in either patient due to the normal appearance of the contralateral gonads and internal female genital organs. One died of a second germ cell malignancy which developed in the contralateral ovary 9½ years later. The diagnosis of 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis was established by karyotype in both patients. Although conservative surgical management is desirable for nulliparous women with unilateral dysgerminomas, the presence of 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis should be suspected in all premenarchal girls with ovarian germ cell malignancies. If karyotyping reveals the presence of an Y chromosome, bilateral gonadectomy is indicated because of the risk that another neoplasm may develop in the contralateral ovary.     

Gonadal dysgenesis in own material]

Eleven patients with Turner syndrome and 6 with pure gonadal dysgenesis were examined. Diagnosis was made on the base of clinical and cytogenetic examination. All patients had primary amenorrhea and underdevelopment of primary, secondary and tertiary sexual features. Hormonal estimations revealed elevated FSH serum concentration in women with Turner syndrome and with pure gonadal dysgenesis (46, XY) vs. to patients with 46, XX. Estradiol and Progesterone levels were low in all cases. All women were treated with estrogens and progestational agents in sequential manner with good results. We did not observe significant phenotypic differences between patients with monosomie X and patients with structural abnormalities within chromosome X and mosaicism.     

Management of phenotypic female patients with an XY karyotype

Nine phenotypic female patients with XY karyotype were evaluated through a clinical, cytogenetic, hormonal, endoscopic and histologic diagnostic protocol. Seven patients complained of primary amenorrhea and two patients of abnormal puberal development. The final diagnosis was XY gonadal dysgenesis (n = 5) and testicular feminization syndrome (n = 4). Two patients were less than 155 cm tall, and the remainder were over 155. Minor somatic anomalies were found in two patients with XY gonadal dysgenesis. Patient with testicular feminization syndrome had FSH and LH within the normal range, and patients with XY gonadal dysgenesis had elevated FSH and LH levels. Gonadoblastomas were found in two patients with XY gonadal dysgenesis (one patient with XO/XX/XY mosaicism). Laparoscopy and gonadal biopsy might be useful in some patients to avoid confusion between XY gonadal dysgenesis and testicular feminization syndrome. Early diagnosis of XY gonadal dysgenesis is always desirable, and bilateral gonadectomy is indicated as soon as the diagnosis is made in patients with a Y chromosome and elevated FSH levels. Surgical removal of the gonads from patients with testicular feminization should be delayed until the completion of puberty because of the low risk of malignancy.     

Bilateral ovariectomy in gonadal dysgenesis with a Y chromosome]

The Authors report 4 cases of gonadal dysgenesis with a Y chromosome. Every patient underwent bilateral oophorectomy. Two cases of streak gonads, 1 case of streak gonad and gonadoblastoma and 1 case of non metastasizing bilateral gonadoblastoma with foci of dysgerminoma have been found. The Authors emphasize the importance of early bilateral gonadectomy in all cases of gonadal dysgenesis with a Y chromosome.     

Mucinous cystadenoma in a female patient with 45,X/46,XY karyotype

The mosaic karyotype of 45,X/46,XY has a wide phenotypic spectrum and there are substantial differences between prenatally and postnatally diagnosed cases. The phenotype varies between normal male to classical Turner syndrome. There is a high risk of gonadal tumor development in the dysgenetic gonads of patients with sex chromosome mosaicism. We report a case of a 24-year-old patient with a pelvic mass and amenorrhea referred to our laboratory for karyotyping. Peripheral blood chromosome analysis showed a mosaic karyotype of 45,X[17]/46,XY[83]. The tumor originated from the left ovary and the right ovary was found to be a streak gonad. The uterus was intact. Pathologic examination of the tumor revealed mucinous cystadenoma. Physical examination of the patient showed signs of Turner syndrome, as short stature (145 cm), short neck and asymmetric shoulders. Her mental state was normal. Y chromosome microdeletion screening involving SRY and ZFY genes was performed and no deletion was found. The patient was informed about the condition during the genetic counseling session.     

Screening for mutations in the SRY gene in patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis or with Turner syndrome and Y mosaicism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of mutations in the open reading frame (ORF), as well as on the 5' and 3', flanking regions of the SRY gene in patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) or with Turner syndrome (TS) and Y mosaicism. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 13 patients with MGD and three patients with TS and Y mosaicism. DNA was isolated from blood leukocytes for subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were performed in the ORF, as well as from the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the SRY gene. RESULTS: No mutations were present in any of the patients studied. CONCLUSION: The absence of mutations in these regions indicated that mutations were an unlikely cause of MGD or TS with Y mosaicism and suggested that there are others genes playing an important role in sex development.     

Dysgerminoma in a 10-Year Old with 45X/46XY Turner Syndrome Mosaicism

BackgroundTurner syndrome is a genetic disorder resulting from the absence of or structural abnormality of one X chromosome. The presence of Y chromosome material in girls with Turner syndrome confers an increased risk of benign and malignant germ cell tumor and prophylactic bilateral gonadectomy is recommended.CaseA 10-year-old Turner mosaic syndrome (45X/46XY) patient underwent prophylactic gonadectomy after unremarkable preoperative pelvic imaging. Histopathology showed a streak right gonad, and left gonad with gonadoblastoma with limited degree of infiltrating germinoma.Summaryand ConclusionGonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma have been reported in girls with Turner mosaic who carry Y chromosome material. Prophylactic gonadectomy should be considered in these girls without delay.     

Hormonal and cytogenetic studies in phenotypically female patients with gonadal dysgenesis

In 4 cases of gonadal dysgenesis the clinical, hormonal, cytogenetic, and histological findings were correlated. There were 2 patients with 46,XY karyotype, one patient with 45,X Turner's syndrome and one patient with a 46,XX chromosome complement. All patients had streak gonads with ovarian stroma. In one phenotypically female 46,XY individual an involuted gonadoblastoma was found. Her testosterone was four-fold higher in gonadal vein blood compared to peripheral blood. Cytogenetic analysis of multiple tissues in both cases with the 46,XY karyotype greatly reduced the probability of mosaicism. In the patient with 45,X Turner's syndrome and in the one with 46,XX gonadal dysgenesis only peripheral blood cells were karyotyped and mosaicism was not further excluded by analysis of other tissues. The concentrations of steroid hormones in gonadal vein blood were low. The levels ranged as follows: estrone 41-98 pg/ml, estradiol 18-90 pg/ml, testosterone 37-294 ng/100 ml, dihydrotestosterone 13-22 ng/100 ml, and progesterone 0.3-1.5 ng/ml. It was concluded that gonadal streaks were similarly deficient in biosynthesis of steroid hormones despite different chromosomal complements.     

Absence of the testicular determining factor gene SRY in XX true hermaphrodites and presence of this locus in most subjects with gonadal dysgenesis caused by Y aneuploidy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to discover whether the testicular determining factor gene SRY (sex-determining region on Y) is present or absent in XX true hermaphrodites and in subjects with gonadal dysgenesis caused by Y aneuploidy. STUDY DESIGN: We screened five XX true hermaphrodites and 24 subjects with gonadal dysgenesis caused by Y aneuploidy for the presence or absence of SRY. With the polymerase chain reaction technique, the sequence coding the 80 amino acid-conserved motif was amplified. The 0.9 kb Hincll pY53.3 subclone, which covers the open reading frame of SRY, serves as a probe for Southern blot analysis. RESULTS: Test results for all five XX true hermaphrodites were negative for SRY. Conversely, 22 of the 24 individuals with 45,X/46,XY gonadal dysgenesis were positive for SRY, including the 10 subjects with only bilateral streak gonads. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of SRY in XX true hemaphrodites and the presence of SRY in 10 subjects with 45,X/46,XY constitution who harbored only bilateral streak gonads seem to indicate that multiple genes are involved in gonadal differentiation.     

Y chromosome mosaicism and occurrence of gonadoblastoma in cases of Turner syndrome and amenorrhoea

In the present study, 73 cases with a clinical diagnosis of Turner syndrome, or with primary or secondary amenorrhoea without frank Turner phenotype, were evaluated for presence of low level Y chromosome mosaicism using molecular methods. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization for centromere and q arm of the Y chromosome and nested polymerase chain reaction for the sex determining region on Y (SRY) gene were performed in peripheral blood, buccal cells and gonadal biopsies. The overall frequency of Y chromosome mosaicism was found to be 18% (13/73 cases). Four cases (16%) of Turner syndrome had Y chromosome mosaicism, seven cases (28%) with primary amenorrhoea and two cases (9%) with secondary amenorrhoea had Y chromosome mosaicism. Histologically detectable gonadoblastoma was observed in one of seven cases (14%) that had Y chromosome mosaicism. This frequency is lower than that reported previously, underscoring the need for large prospective investigations to determine the frequency of Y chromosome mosaicism and occurrence of gonadoblastoma in cases of Turner syndrome and other forms of amenorrhoea.     

Sex chromosomal mosaicism in the gonads of patients with gonadal dysgenesis, but normal female or male karyotypes in lymphocytes

OBJECTIVES: In most cases, XX or XY gonadal dysgenesis remains genetically unexplained. In this pilot study we searched for sex-chromosomal mosaicism in gonads of patients with XX or XY gonadal dysgenesis of undetermined origin. STUDY DESIGN: Gonadal tissues were analyzed by cytogenetic and interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analyses in four patients with gonadal dysgenesis and normal female (46,XX) or male (46,XY) karyotypes in lymphocytes. RESULTS: Cytogenetic and FISH analyses of the gonads demonstrated in three patients a sex-chromosomal mosaicism. Cytogenetic analysis of gonadal tissue of the fourth patient confirmed the result of the lymphocytes with 46,XX, but FISH analysis revealed in 17% of nuclei only one X-chromosome. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that sex-chromosomal mosaicism in gonads may be a frequent cause of gonadal dysgenesis despite of normal karyotypes in lymphocytes. Therefore, cytogenetic and FISH analyses of gonadal tissue can provide important information in unexplained cases of gonadal dysgenesis.     

Clinical picture in patients with 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype. Are there differences from Turner syndrome?

Clinical presentation in 2 patients with 46,X,i(Xq)-Karyotype are described. In both cases no mosaicism could be detected. The two patients show the classical features of gonadal dysgenesis: short stature, sexual infantilism and primary amenorrhea due to streak ovaries. Other characteristic somatic manifestations of the Turner syndrome such as webbing of the neck, however, were missing. In one of the two cases a Hashimoto's thyroiditis was present, which has been repeatedly reported before in the literature in cases with 46,X,i(Xq)-karyotype.     

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma in patients with intersex disorders: The role of pituitary gonadotropins in ovarian tumorigenesis

The common epithelial tumors of the human ovary have rarely been found in the gonads of intersex patients with gonadal dysgenesis or true hermaphroditism. This report describes a patient with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and mixed gonadal dysgenesis (45,X/46,XY) and reviews other reported cases. Intersex patients require early evaluation with treatment based on the karyotypic risk of malignant gonadal transformation. Epithelial ovarian tumors arising in dysgenetic gonads, which lack ova and are incapable of ovulating, provide a unique model for understanding the role of pituitary gonadotropins in ovarian epithelial tumorigenesis.     

Familial 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis and gonadoblastoma/dysgerminoma: case report

The case reports of two sisters admitted for evaluation of primary amenorrhea are presented. Gynecological and endocrinological investigations and chromosomal analysis led to the diagnosis of familial 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis. Both sisters underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy. Histological examination revealed dysgenetic gonads with gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma. Five years after treatment by surgery and irradiation the patients are well and free of recurrence. These cases again confirm the risk of malignancy and the necessity of prophylactic gonadectomy in all patients with gonadal dysgenesis and Y chromosomal material.