Serum FSH as a Useful Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors

Simple Summary This study aimed to evaluate whether serum gonadotropin and sex steroid hormone measurement is useful in the differential diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs). Serum hormone levels were measured preoperatively in patients who underwent surgery for ovarian tumors (n = 471) and compared in two groups, a GCT group (n = 13) and a group with other histological types of ovarian tumor (non-GCT) (n = 458). Univariate analysis showed that the GCT group had significantly lower serum gonadotropin levels and significantly higher serum sex steroid hormone levels than the non-GCT group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level was significantly associated with GCT (p = 0.004). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for the diagnosis of GCTs showed that the area under the curve of the serum FSH level was 0.99, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98%. Preoperative serum FSH levels are an extremely useful marker for differentiating GCTs from all ovarian tumors. Background: We evaluated whether the serum hormone levels are useful in the differential diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors (GCTs), regardless of menopausal status. Methods: Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone were measured preoperatively in all patients (n = 471) who underwent surgery for ovarian tumors at Chiba University Hospital between 2009 and 2021. These were compared in two groups, a GCT group (n = 13) and a group with other histological types (non-GCT) (n = 458). Results: The GCT group had significantly lower serum LH and FSH (p = 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively) and significantly higher testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.045, respectively) than the non-GCT group. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum FSH and estradiol were significantly associated with GCT (FSH, odds ratio (OR) = 0.0046, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.0026-0.22, p = 0.004; estradiol, OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.998, p = 0.046). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for GCTs showed that the area under the curve of serum FSH was 0.99, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98%, when the cutoff level was set at 2.0 IU/L. Conclusions: Preoperative serum FSH level is an extremely useful marker for differentiating GCTs from all ovarian tumors.

Automated summary

This study found that preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are an extremely useful marker for differentiating granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) from other ovarian tumors. The GCT group had significantly lower serum FSH levels compared to the non-GCT group, while serum sex steroid hormone levels were significantly higher. Furthermore, serum FSH levels showed high sensitivity and specificity and served as a reliable indicator for distinguishing GCTs from other ovarian tumors.