A Case Report of Bilateral Adrenocortical Carcinoma Complicated by Adrenal Insufficiency.

Kim, Min Joo; Kim, Jung Hee; Kim, Tae Young; Kim, Sang Wan

doi:2011.26.3.243

Endocrinol Metab > Volume 26(3); 2011 > Article

Case Report

Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011;26(3):243-247.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2011.26.3.243 Published online September 1, 2011.

A Case Report of Bilateral Adrenocortical Carcinoma Complicated by Adrenal Insufficiency.

Min Joo Kim, Jung Hee Kim, Tae Young Kim, Sang Wan Kim

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²Division of Hematology and Oncology, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
³Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. swkimmd@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma is often functional and presents with signs and symptoms of adrenal steroid hormone excess. Adrenal insufficiency secondary to bilateral adrenocortical carcinoma is a particularly rare complication. We recently encountered a case of bilateral adrenocortical carcinoma complicated by adrenal insufficiency. A 52-year-old male was transferred to this hospital complaining of general weakness and weight loss. A bilateral adrenal mass was detected on abdomen CT. Plasma cortisol and aldosterone failed to rise during the rapid ACTH stimulation test. The CT-guided adrenal biopsy revealed findings consistent with adrenocortical carcinoma. Left hemiparesis was developed and brain metastasis was detected via brain MRI. Despite the application of gamma knife surgery and chemotherapy, the disease progressed and the patient died.

Key Words: Adrenal cortex neoplasm, Adrenal insufficiency, Adrenocortical carcinoma