Primary hypothyroidism presenting as multiple ovarian cysts in an adult woman: a case report.

Kazuko Kubota, Masahiro Itho, Hiroshi Kishi, Shigeo Igarashi, Takashi Minegishi

Index: Gynecol. Endocrinol. 24(10) , 586-9, (2008)

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Abstract

A 21-year-old woman was referred because of abdominal pain. On physical examination, her abdomen was distended up to the umbilical region. Ultrasound and computer tomography of the abdomen revealed bilateral multiple ovarian cysts. Laboratory studies revealed increased liver function, total cholesterol and creatine phosphokinase. Further clinical investigations determined that the patient suffered from primary hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis. The cysts resolved spontaneously after the simple replacement of a thyroid hormone. Some reports have been published of primary hypothyroidism presenting as ovarian cysts and precocious puberty in prepubertal girls. However, the case presented herein indicates that an ovarian tumor as a result of hypothyroidism may also occur in adult females. To avoid inadvertent surgery to remove an ovarian tumor, it is essential that a patient with multiple ovarian cysts and hypothyroidism be properly managed, as the simple replacement of a thyroid hormone could resolve the ovarian cysts.