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A 17 year old woman was evaluated for amenorrhoea and severe hirsutism (Ferriman-Gallway index = 31). Pelvic ultrasound demonstrated a right unilateral ovarian mass (6 x 5 cm), whereas the computed tomography for the adrenal gland was normal. Endocrinological findings revealed normal concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone, dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate, cortisol, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione and 17-hydroxy-progesterone concentrations, already elevated at basal conditions, did not increase after an ACTH test, whereas they decreased significantly after dexamethasone administration and increased after a human chorionic gonadotrophin test. Of all the tumour markers investigated, tissue polypeptide antigen and alpha 1-fetoprotein showed an increase in concentration. Selective venous ovarian catheterization indicated the presence of an androgen-producing tumour in the right ovary. The histopathological diagnosis was consistent with a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour ranking between an intermediate and a poor grade of differentiation, with heterologous elements characterized by mucinous epithelium of the gastro-intestinal type. An endocrine evaluation performed postoperatively showed a normalization of all serum pathological hormones and tumour markers studied. Some particular aspects were focused on and discussed.

Couples suffering from idiopathic infertility are among the most difficult to treat in IVF cycles due to the unknown cause of failure to reproduce. This can lead to years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive and often the abandonment of treatment. In some couples, the only observable problem is the development of poor quality embryos. In this case report, we describe the successful use of cytoplasmic donation in a couple where the high level of embryo fragmentation and poor embryo development was thought to be the unique cause of failure to conceive after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). We noted a strong reduction in embryo fragmentation and a consequent increase in embryo quality after the treatment. Transfer of four of the embryos receiving donor cytoplasm led to a pregnancy with two gestational sacs and the birth of healthy twins.