Sex Cord Tumor with Annular Tubules

Abstract

In 1970, Scully (1970) reported 13 cases of a distinctive neoplasm that was characterized by the .formation of simple and complex an nular tubules and designated as a sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT)>>. Six of 13 cases were associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). Scully maintained that the sex cord tumor with annular tubules arose from granulosa cells but grew in a pattern more characteristic of Sertoli cells. Hart et al. (1980) and Crissman and Hart (1981) considered SCTATs unassociated with the PJS to be granulosa cell tumors. Tavassoli and Norris(1980) suggested a Sertoli cell origin of the SCTAT unassociated with the PJS. Recently Young et al. (1982) maintained that the SCTAT is a distinctive ovarian neop- Presented in part at the Annual meeting of Korean Cancer Research Association, Seoul, Ko· rea, September, 1981, and at the 3rd Annnal meeting of Korean Society of Pathologists, Kyungjoo, Korea, October, 1981. This study was supported by the Seoul National University College of Medicine Research Fund (1981) Address for reprints: Geung Hwan Ahn, M.D Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yunkeun-Dong, Chongno-Ku, Seoul, Korea. t 1984년 6월 26힐 갱 수 lasm having morphologic features intermediate between those of the granulosa cell tumor and those of the Sertoli cell tumor with a capability of differentiating in both directions. The purpose of the present study is to define the nature of the SCTAT on the basis of light and electron microscopic study of 3 cases of the SCTAT. As a preliminary procedure to understand the processes involved in the differentiation of the gonads, a review of indifferent gonads and testes and ovaries at various stages of development was done because knowledge of their development is essential to define the nature and histogenesis of the SCTAT. A review of cryptorchid testes was also done.