Nodular Theca-Lutein Hyperplasia of Pregnancy (So-Called “Pregnancy Luteoma”). A Clinical and Pathologic Study of 15 Cases

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Abstract
A clinical and pathologic analysis of 15 pregnancy luteomas is presented. Occurring in pregnant women, usually at term, the lesions are benign and rarely cause symptoms, although they are associated with slight virilization and toxemia of pregnancy and may reach a size sufficient to obstruct the birth canal or to be detected clinically. Pregnancy luteomas are often multiple, are occasionally bilateral, and regress after delivery. They are associated with marked luteinization of the cortical stroma and with abnormally increased numbers of theca-lutein cysts, and they appear to arise from hyperplastic overgrowth of the theca-lutein cells in theca-lutein cysts. Because of these factors, pregnancy luteomas are nodular hyperplasias of theca-lutein cells, not true adenomas. The term nodular theca-lutein hyperplasia of pregnancy" is favored because it is a more accurate designation and avoids confusion with the various ovarian neoplasms referred to as "luteomas." Pregnancy luteomas are not related to preexisting ovarian stromal tumors, lipid cell tumors, or the corpus luteum of pregnancy. The criteria for distinguishing these 4 lesions are discussed.

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