Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1965, Page 99

True Hermaphroditism
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scopic examination of a lump of ejected necrotic tissue showed
necrotic testicular tissue. At 29 years of age the patient was
admitted to surgical department D, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copen-
hagen and operated on for incarcerated left ingvinal hernia. The
right testis was found to be small and the left testis seemed to
be palpable just inside the annulus abdominalis. During the same
admission the hypospadias was corrected. He complained now
of periodical haematuria lasting five to six days at four weekly
intervals. The haematuria started about two months after the
injury to the right testis. Urethoscopy during a period of haema-
turia showed a cleft-like opening in the posterior wall of the
prostatic part of the urethra from whence a small, bloody lump
of tissue protruded. The cells from a skin biopsy were examined
for sex-chromatin and the cells were found to be chromatin
positive as in a female. The patient was now operated on in
order to find and remove ovarian tissue. During the operation
an uterus of almost normal size with a normal looking tuba
uterina on the left side was found and removed. Further a cystic
ovary with corpora lutea was found. From the uterus a little-
finger-thick string — vagina — was seen going to the posterior
part of the prostata, where the urethroscopy had revealed the
little opening in the posterior wall of the urethra. Further a
small node in the scar from the previous ingvinal hernial
operation was removed. The patient had complained of transitory
pains here following the operation for ingvinal hernia. On the
microscopic examination the node appeared to be endometriotic
tissue, and it is presumed that a suture must have gone through
the uterus lying close to the annulus abdominalis during the
operation for ingvinal hernia.
The chromosome analysis were performed in the same way
as mentioned in the previous case on skincells and in this case
also on white blood cells. The results showed chromosomes as
in a normal female. The sex — chromosome pattern was XX.
No mosaic formation was observed.
SUMMARY
The sex-chromatin test and the chromosome analysis are reviewed
briefly in relation to the sexual development in normal and known abnor-
mal conditions. Two cases of true hermaphroditism are reported. Chromo-
some analysis showed normal feminine constitution in both. Microscopical
investigation of the ovotestis removed from case I showed the ovarian