sertoli–leydig cell tumour sertoli–leydig cell tumour sertoli–leydig cell tumour is a group of tumors composed of variable proportions of sertoli cells, leydig cells, and in the case of intermediate and poorly differentiated neoplasms, primitive gonadal stroma and sometimes heterologous elements. sertoli–leydig cell tumourmicrograph of a sertoli–leydig cell tumour. the leydig cells have abundant eosinophilic or light pink cytoplasm. the sertoli cells have a pale/clear cytoplasm. h&e stain.specialtyendocrinology, oncology sertoli–leydig cell tumour (a sex-cord stromal tumor), is a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor and is a member of the sex cord-stromal tumour group of ovarian and testicular cancers. the tumour occurs in early adulthood (not seen in newborn), is rare, comprising less than 1% of testicular tumours. while the tumour can occur at any age, it occurs most often in young adults. recent studies have shown that many cases of sertoli–leydig cell tumor of the ovary are caused by germline mutations in the dicer1 gene. these hereditary cases tend to be younger, often have a multinodular thyroid goiter and there may be a personal or family history of other rare tumors such as pleuropulmonary blastoma, wilms tumor and cervical rhabdomyosarcoma. closely related terms include arrhenoblastoma and androblastoma. both terms are classified under sertoli–leydig cell tumour in mesh. signs and symptoms due to excess testosterone secreted by the tumour, one-third of adult females present with a recent history of progressive masculinization. masculinization is preceded by anovulation, oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and defeminization. additional signs include acne and hirsutism, voice deepening, clitoromegaly, temporal hair recession, and an increase in musculature. serum testosterone level is high. cause the exact cause of sertoli–leydig cell tumour is not known. research studies seem to indicate that certain genetic mutations (in the dicer1 gene) may play a role in many cases. diagnosis presence of an ovarian tumour plus hormonal disturbances suggests a sertoli–leydig cell tumour. however, hormonal disturbance is present in only two-thirds of cases. a conclusive diagnosis is made via histology, as part of a pathology report made during or after surgery.