Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Case reports

Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Bilateral adrenal adenomas with autonomous cortisol secretion from both glands and autonomous aldosterone secretion from the left adrenal: a case report: Jung Eun Han, Soyeon Yoo, Sang Ah Lee, Gwanpyo Koh; J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2025;42:33. Published online April 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/jyms.2025.42.33

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Abstract PDF: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and increases the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. When PA coexists with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), the cardiovascular risk increases significantly, especially in cases of bilateral adrenal adenomas with asymmetric hormone secretion, which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 50-year-old female presented with hypertension and hypokalemia. PA was diagnosed based on elevated aldosterone levels, suppressed plasma renin activity, and the results of various dynamic endocrine tests. Imaging revealed bilateral adrenal adenomas, and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed aldosterone hypersecretion from the left adrenal gland and cortisol hypersecretion from both adrenal glands. The patient subsequently underwent left adrenalectomy, which resolved the aldosterone hypersecretion and normalized blood pressure and potassium levels. However, the cortisol hypersecretion persisted. This case highlights the importance of AVS in identifying the sources of hormone secretion and enabling targeted surgical treatment while avoiding bilateral adrenalectomy, which can lead to lifelong adrenal insufficiency. Comprehensive endocrine evaluation, including ACS assessment, in patients with PA is essential to help reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with PA and ACS and thus improve treatment outcomes.

Hematology
Estrogen-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma: You Jeong, Sung Chul Cho, Hee Joon Cho, Ji Soo Song, Joon Seog Kong, Jong Wook Park, Yun Hyi Ku; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(1):54-58. Published online December 20, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2019.00017

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2 Crossref

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare type of endocrine malignancy with an annual incidence of approximately 1–2 cases per million. The majority of these tumors secrete cortisol, and a few secrete aldosterone or androgen. Estrogen-secreting adrenocortical carcinomas are extremely rare, irrespective of the secretion status of other adrenocortical hormones. Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old man with a cortisol and estrogen-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. The patient presented with gynecomastia and abdominal discomfort. Radiological assessment revealed a tumor measuring 21×15.3×12 cm localized to the retroperitoneum. A hormonal evaluation revealed increased levels of estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol. The patient underwent a right adrenalectomy, and the pathological examination revealed an adrenocortical carcinoma with a Weiss’ score of 6. After surgery, he was treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-one months after treatment, the patient remains alive with no evidence of recurrence.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Gynecomastia in a Man With Adrenal Mass
Jasmine Saini, Patrick Navin, Michael Rivera, Irina Bancos
JCEM Case Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Updates of Clinical and Pathological Features after Renewed World Health Organisation Classification and Pathology Staging
Alfred King-yin Lam
Biomedicines.2021; 9(2): 175. CrossRef

Case Report

Oncology and Cancer Research
Huge pheochromocytoma presented with paraaortic lymph node and spine metastases: Yeon Won Park, Han Ju Moon, Jung Suk Han, Ji Min Han, Jong Wook Park, Yun Hyi Ku; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2017;34(2):247-253. Published online December 31, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2017.34.2.247

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Abstract PDF: Approximately 10–15% of pheochromocytomas are malignant. There are insufficient histologic criteria for the diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. Thus, the term malignant pheochromocytoma is restricted to tumors with local invasion or distant metastases. We experienced a case of malignant pheochromocytoma recurred with spinal metastasis 4 years after the surgery for huge benign pheochromocytoma. A 68-year-old female was admitted for trunk and back pain. The patient had a history of surgery 4 years ago for a 10.0×9.5×7.5 cm sized benign pheochromocytoma at the left adrenal gland. A thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor in the 7th thoracic vertebral body and a 24-hour urinary norepinephrine increased, suggesting metastatic recurrence of malignant pheochromocytoma. After metastasectomy in the 7th thoracic vertebral body, urine catecholamine was normalized and pain also disappeared. However, a metastatic lesion was found in the paraaortic area on a follow-up abdominal computed tomography scan and an additional metastasectomy was performed. The pathology confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic pheochromocytoma in the paraaortic lymph nodes. She is supposed to be treated with adjuvant iodine 131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy. In our experience, a close follow-up should be considered in patients who had a huge benign pheochromocytoma due to the possibility of malignant metastases.

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