Warning: fopen(/home/virtual/enm-kes/journal/upload/ip_log/ip_log_2024-04.txt): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 88 Warning: fwrite() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 89 A Case of Ectopic ACTH Syndrome Associated with Metastatic Prostate Cancer.
Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Endocrinol Metab : Endocrinology and Metabolism

clarivate
OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search
Advanced Search
mobile menu button

Articles

Page Path
HOME > Endocrinol Metab > Volume 27(3); 2012 > Article
Case Report A Case of Ectopic ACTH Syndrome Associated with Metastatic Prostate Cancer.
Eun Ky Kim, Soo Heon Kwak, Hwa Young Ahn, Ah Reum Khang, Hyo Jin Park, So Yeon Park, Sang Eun Lee, Hak Chul Jang, Seong Yeon Kim, Young Joo Park
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2012;27(3):237-243
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2012.27.3.237
Published online: September 19, 2012
  • 1,796 Views
  • 26 Download
  • 0 Crossref
  • 0 Scopus
1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yjparkmd@snu.ac.kr
2Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
3Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
4Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Full Article

Download PDF Download PDF

Abstract

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is mostly associated with neuroendocrine tumors and small cell carcinoma of the lung. This syndrome of prostate cancer is rare and has been reported in only a few cases. We report a patient with ectopic ACTH production associated with metastatic prostate cancer. A 70-year-old patient with metastatic prostate cancer was admitted to our hospital with septic shock. He had a history of hormonal therapy and transurethral prostatectomy. Adrenocortical function was checked due to consistent fever and poor general condition, which revealed markedly increased levels of basal plasma ACTH and serum cortisol. The patient did not present typical signs of the Cushing's syndrome, however, hypokalemia and a history of hypertension were found. He died in days as a result of multi-organ failure. On pathology, the prostatectomy specimen showed a tumor composed of mixed populations of adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma. The tumor cells in the small cell component were positive for chromogranin and ACTH. Although neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer is rare, etopic ACTH production should be considered in patients with prostate cancer as well as in clinical features of ACTH hypersecretion.

Related articles
Endocrinol Metab : Endocrinology and Metabolism
© Korean Endocrine Society.