IMAGE OF THE MONTH
Unilateral Streak Ovary in Turner Syndrome Hui Jue Zhang, MD, Togas Tulandi, MD, MHCM, FRCSC, FACOG Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal QC
A
16-year-old woman with Turner syndrome (45, X) and regular menses underwent laparoscopy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation. A right streak ovary was found (Figure 1), together with a normal uterus and normal left ovary with a corpus luteum (Figure 2). Unilateral streak ovary is a rare occurrence. Of the 13 cases of unilateral streak ovary reported to date, the opposite ovary was described as normal in one case and hypoplastic in 12 others.1 The most accepted theory to explain unilateral gonadal dysgenesis is that of differential gonadal degeneration. In females with Turner syndrome, germ cell migration to gonadal ridge is normal, but the rate of germ cell degeneration varies during fetal life.2 This could explain the varying degrees of gonadal dysgenesis, residual
Figure 1.
ovarian function, and secondary sexual characteristics in women with Turner syndrome. Our case likely represents an early phase of differential germ cell degeneration. Consent to publish these images was obtained from the patient. REFERENCES 1. Ba’aqeel HS. Unilateral streaked ovary (Slotnick-Goldfarb) syndrome: a case report and review of the literature. Ann Saudi Med 1988;8:501–4. 2. Carr DH, Haggar RA, Hart AG. Germ cells in the ovaries of XO female infants. Am J Clin Pathol 1968;49:521–6.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2015;37(2):103
Figure 2.
FEBRUARY JOGC FÉVRIER 2015 l 103
Unilateral Streak Ovary in Turner Syndrome Hui Jue Zhang, MD, Togas Tulandi, MD, MHCM, FRCSC, FACOG Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal QC
A
16-year-old woman with Turner syndrome (45, X) and regular menses underwent laparoscopy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation. A right streak ovary was found (Figure 1), together with a normal uterus and normal left ovary with a corpus luteum (Figure 2). Unilateral streak ovary is a rare occurrence. Of the 13 cases of unilateral streak ovary reported to date, the opposite ovary was described as normal in one case and hypoplastic in 12 others.1 The most accepted theory to explain unilateral gonadal dysgenesis is that of differential gonadal degeneration. In females with Turner syndrome, germ cell migration to gonadal ridge is normal, but the rate of germ cell degeneration varies during fetal life.2 This could explain the varying degrees of gonadal dysgenesis, residual
Figure 1.
ovarian function, and secondary sexual characteristics in women with Turner syndrome. Our case likely represents an early phase of differential germ cell degeneration. Consent to publish these images was obtained from the patient. REFERENCES 1. Ba’aqeel HS. Unilateral streaked ovary (Slotnick-Goldfarb) syndrome: a case report and review of the literature. Ann Saudi Med 1988;8:501–4. 2. Carr DH, Haggar RA, Hart AG. Germ cells in the ovaries of XO female infants. Am J Clin Pathol 1968;49:521–6.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2015;37(2):103
Figure 2.
FEBRUARY JOGC FÉVRIER 2015 l 103
