Study of a virilizing adrenal cortical tumor. Analysis of urinary steroids by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry]

The C19 and C21 urinary steroids from a virilizing adrenal tumour with high levels of plasma 17alpha-progesterone and its urinary metabolites have been identified and quantitated by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of sephadex fractions of the total urinary extract. Of the fifty five identified steroids thirteen were new compounds or known compounds not found before in such a case. The actiology of the apparent 21-steroid hydroxylase deficiency is discussed at the light of these analytical results and of the hormonogenesis enzymatic induction of the tumour biopsy.