A neoplasm derived from ovarian mesenchyme, consisting chiefly of spindle-shaped cells that frequently contain small droplets of fat; gross features generally resemble those of a granulosa cell tumor, i.e., firm, yellow, encapsulated mass, ordinarily about 10 cm or less in diameter, but it tends to be less malignant; it may form considerable quantities of estrogens, thereby resulting in precocious development of secondary sexual features in prepubertal girls, or hyperplasia of the endometrium in older patients. SYN: theca cell tumor. [G. theke, box (theca), + -oma, tumor]
* * *
the·co·ma (the-koґmə) theca cell tumor.Medical dictionary. 2011.