Brenner tumor as encountered in a southern Nigerian Hospital

Brenner tumor is an uncommon ovarian tumor whose etiology and hormonal activity have aroused controversies. The salient features of three cases of this tumor seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between March 1981 and March 1987 are discussed. In one case, the tumor was bilateral and was associated with secondry polycythemia. Another case was associated with a full term pregnancy and here the tumor contained luteinized stromal cells. Although such cells are usually associated with estrogenic activity, the full term pregnancy in this case will suggest at best a low level of hormonal activity. The last case was an incidental microscopic lesion in a postmenopausal woman.