Late Diagnosis of Swyer Syndrome in a Patient with Bilateral Germ Cell Tumor Treated with a Contraceptive Due to Primary Amenorrhea

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 24;20(3):2139. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032139.

Abstract

Swyer syndrome is a special form of DSD (disorders of sex development), so-called pure gonadal dysgenesis with a karyotype 46, XY and a female phenotype. One of the most important problems in patients with DSD is the risk of gonadal tumors. We present a case of a 26-year-old patient with Swyer syndrome. The patient had primary amenorrhea and no puberty characteristics. In ultrasound imaging in the vicinity of the uterus, there were two homogeneous structures. A genetic diagnosis was also performed, which showed karyotype 46, XY. The patient underwent a bilateral gonadectomy. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of dysgerminoma in both dysgenetic gonads. The follow-up of five years now did not show any changes suspected of invasion. We concluded that the primary amenorrhea, along with the absence of development of sexual characteristics, should prompt an expanded diagnosis for disorders of sex development. Gonadal dysgerminoma should be suspected even in the absence of tumor features on ultrasound and blood laboratory tests. Early prophylactic gonadectomy could protect patients from developing tumors in dysgenetic gonads.

Keywords: DSD; Swyer syndrome; amenorrhea; disorders of sex development; dysgenetic gonad; dysgerminoma; germ cell tumor; ovary.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amenorrhea / etiology
  • Contraceptive Agents
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Dysgerminoma* / diagnosis
  • Dysgerminoma* / genetics
  • Dysgerminoma* / surgery
  • Female
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY* / diagnosis
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY* / genetics
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Sexual Maturation

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.