A Rare Variant of Ovarian Fibroma With Minor Sex Cord Elements: A Unique Expression of Stromal Differentiation

ABSTRACT Ovarian fibroma with minor sex cord elements is a rare and underrecognized histological variant of ovarian stromal tumors. While the bulk of the tumor resembles a classic fibroma, the presence of small foci of sexcord‐like cells can create a diagnostic dilemma, particularly in limited samples. This tumor exhibits hormonal production resulting in endometrial hyperplasia, polyp, or even carcinoma. We report the case of a 56‐year‐old postmenopausal woman who presented with a history of intermittent postmenopausal bleeding and lower abdominal discomfort with primary infertility. There was a slowly enlarging pelvic mass discovered incidentally on ultrasound imaging. Surgical excision revealed a firm, white encapsulated ovarian tumor. Histologically, the lesion was composed of interlacing bundles of bland spindle cells, characteristic of a fibroma. Notably, scattered discrete clusters and cords of cells resembling Granulosa or Sertoli‐type differentiation were observed, occupying less than 10% of the tumor area. These minor sex cord elements exhibited uniform round to oval nuclei and scant cytoplasm, without atypia or mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry supported the diagnosis, with calretinin and inhibin positivity in the sex cord foci, while the stromal component showed SMA positivity. We report this case because of its rarity and its silent clinical presentation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Clinical Case Reports
Published
2026-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.72685
Primary Topic
Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment
Type
article
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article

A Rare Variant of Ovarian Fibroma With Minor Sex Cord Elements: A Unique Expression of Stromal Differentiation

Saira Rathore, Kanwal Babar, Aalaa Saleh, Noreen Javaid
Clinical Case Reports
Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment
article

A Rare Variant of Ovarian Fibroma With Minor Sex Cord Elements: A Unique Expression of Stromal Differentiation

Saira Rathore, Kanwal Babar, Aalaa Saleh, Noreen Javaid
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ovarian fibroma with minor sex cord elements is a rare and underrecognized histological variant of ovarian stromal tumors. While the bulk of the tumor resembles a classic fibroma, the presence of small foci of sexcord‐like cells can create a diagnostic dilemma, particularly in limited samples. This tumor exhibits hormonal production resulting in endometrial hyperplasia, polyp, or even carcinoma. We report the case of a 56‐year‐old postmenopausal woman who presented with a history of intermittent postmenopausal bleeding and lower abdominal discomfort with primary infertility. There was a slowly enlarging pelvic mass discovered incidentally on ultrasound imaging. Surgical excision revealed a firm, white encapsulated ovarian tumor. Histologically, the lesion was composed of interlacing bundles of bland spindle cells, characteristic of a fibroma. Notably, scattered discrete clusters and cords of cells resembling Granulosa or Sertoli‐type differentiation were observed, occupying less than 10% of the tumor area. These minor sex cord elements exhibited uniform round to oval nuclei and scant cytoplasm, without atypia or mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry supported the diagnosis, with calretinin and inhibin positivity in the sex cord foci, while the stromal component showed SMA positivity. We report this case because of its rarity and its silent clinical presentation.

Clinical Case ReportsVol. 14(5)
Lebanese University (LB), Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PK), Lahore General Hospital (PK)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment
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