scholarly journals Unlikely Coexistence of Sporadic Pheochromocytoma and Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Challenge to Manage

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A163-A163
Author(s):  
Kathryn Dinh ◽  
Richard A Failor

Abstract Background: The incidence of bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH) is unknown, but growing in an era of increased utilization of imaging. Coexistence of BMAH and pheochromocytoma has not previously been reported. Clinical Case: A 63-year man presented with enlarging left chest-wall mass found to have a poorly differentiated sarcoma. Staging PET/CT identified a hypermetabolic 2.0 cm left adrenal nodule with SVU of 16.6 concerning for metastasis. Hormonal evaluation included dexamethasone suppression test with 7AM serum cortisol of 24.7 ug/dL (<1.8 ug/dL) without dexamethasone level, serum ACTH <5.0 pg/mL (7.2–63 pg/mL), plasma metanephrine of <0.20 nmol/L (0–0.49 nmol/L), and plasma normetanephrine of 0.76 nmol/L (0.00–0.89 nmol/L). Biopsy of this left adrenal nodule was consistent with pheochromocytoma. By history, he lacked any classical symptoms of pheochromocytoma. Repeat testing demonstrated only slight elevations in normetanephrine (1.3 nmol/L and 1.2 nmol/L); he remains asymptomatic at follow-up 4 months later. However, history and exam revealed central obesity, thin skin, type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin, and hypertension controlled on three agents concerning for Cushing’s. Repeat evaluation showed AM cortisol of 17.9 ug/dL (<1.8 mcg/dL) with dexamethasone level of 917 ng/dL (180–550 ng/dL), ACTH of 6.4 pg/mL with concordant cortisol of 23.1 ug/dL, and 24 hour urine collection with 0.98 L volume, creatinine of 0.58 g/24h (1–2 g/24hr), and urinary free cortisol of 67 ug/24h (3.5–45) altogether suggesting ACTH-independent hypercortisolism. On review of CT abdomen, he has bilateral adrenal nodules measuring >1cm with bilateral gland enlargement consistent with BMAH. Resection of his left adrenal gland was not pursued due to cormorbidities as well as biochemically-silent nature of his pheochromocytoma. To manage his hypercortisolism, he was recently initiated on osilodrostat after completing radiation therapy for his chest-wall sarcoma. Conclusion: This is the first case demonstrating clinical, biochemical, and imaging results consistent with bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia and hypercortisolism also found to have a clinically and biochemically silent, biopsy proven pheochromocytoma. This is also a unique use of osilodrostat to manage BMAH.

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 486-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcio Carlos Machado ◽  
Patricia Sampaio Gadelha ◽  
Marcello Delano Bronstein ◽  
Maria Candida Barisson Vilares Fragoso

Cushing's disease (CD) is usually caused by secretion of ACTH by a pituitary corticotroph microadenoma. Nevertheless, 7%-20% of patients present with ACTH-secreting macroadenomas. Our aim is to report a 36-year-old female patient with CD due to solid-cystic ACTH-macroadenoma followed up during 34 months. The patient presented spontaneous remission due to presumed asymptomatic tumor apoplexy. She showed typical signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (CS). Initial tests were consistent with ACTH-dependent CS: elevated urinary free cortisol, abnormal serum cortisol after low dose dexamethasone suppression test, and elevated midnight salivary cortisol, associated with high plasma ACTH levels. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a sellar mass of 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm of diameter with supra-sellar extension leading to slight chiasmatic impingement, and showing hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging, suggesting a cystic component. She had no visual impairment. After two months, while waiting for pituitary surgery, she presented spontaneous resolution of CS. Tests were consistent with remission of hypercortisolism: normal 24-h total urinary cortisol and normal midnight salivary cortisol. Pituitary MRI showed shrinkage of the tumor with disappearance of the chiasmatic compression. She has been free from the disease for 28 months (without hypercortisolism or hypopituitarism). The hormonal and imaging data suggested that silent apoplexy of pituitary tumor led to spontaneous remission of CS. However, recurrence of CS was described in cases following pituitary apoplexy. Therefore, careful long-term follow-up is required.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaskanwal Sara ◽  
Matt Jenkins ◽  
Tanveer Chohan ◽  
Karan Jolly ◽  
Lisa Shepherd ◽  
...  

Introduction. There have been six previous cases that reported pseudopheochromocytoma in patients taking clozapine. Our case showed the direct link of clozapine to serum levels of certain markers.Case. This is a case of a 49-year-old obese Caucasian female who was referred to endocrinology for investigation of Cushing’s syndrome, based on raised blood pressure and Cushingoid facies. The patient had underlying schizophrenia and was stable on clozapine. Her blood pressure was 150/99 mmHg on bendroflumethiazide and candesartan. We measured her 24-hour urinary-free cortisol, which was normal but 24-hour urinary-free noradrenaline was elevated at 835 nmol (76–561) with normal adrenaline 36 nmol (7–82) and dopamine 2679 nmol (366–2879), as the patient had history of palpitations and sweating. Two sets of 24-hour urinary-free cortisol measurements were normal and serum cortisol suppressed to <50 nmol/l after a 1 mg overnight dexamethasone. Two further 24-hour urinary-free catecholamines showed a raised level of noradrenaline. MRI demonstrated normal adrenals and MIBG scan did not show any abnormal uptake at adrenal glands.Conclusion. Pseudopheochromocytoma has been reported in patients taking clozapine. A number of different mechanisms for raised plasma noradrenaline levels with clozapine have been postulated. The above case highlights an unusual but known side effect of clozapine.


2010 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Eller-Vainicher ◽  
Valentina Morelli ◽  
Antonio Stefano Salcuni ◽  
Massimo Torlontano ◽  
Francesca Coletti ◽  
...  

ObjectiveFew data are available regarding the need of steroid substitutive therapy after unilateral adrenalectomy for adrenal incidentaloma (AI). It is unknown whether, before surgery, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis secretion parameters can predict post-surgical hypocortisolism.AimThis study aimed to evaluate whether, in AI patients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy, post-surgical hypocortisolism could be predicted by the parameters of HPA axis function.DesignProspective, multicenter.MethodsA total of 60 patients underwent surgical removal of AI (surgical indication: 29 subclinical hypercortisolism (SH); 31 AI dimension). Before surgery, SH was diagnosed in patients presenting at least three criteria out of urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels>60 μg/24 h, cortisol after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg-DST)>3.0 μg/dl, ACTH levels<10 pg/ml, midnight serum cortisol (MSC)>5.4 μg/dl.Two months after surgery, HPA axis function was assessed by low dose ACTH stimulation test or insulin tolerance test when needed: 39 patients were affected (Group B) and 21 were not affected (Group A) with hypocortisolism. The accuracy in predicting hypocortisolism of pre-surgical HPA axis parameters or their combinations was evaluated.ResultsThe presence of >2 alterations among 1 mg-DST>5.0 μg/dl, ACTH<10 pg/ml, elevated UFC and MSC has the highest odds ratio (OR) for predicting post-surgical hypocortisolism (OR 10.45, 95% confidence interval, CI 2.54–42.95, P=0.001). Post-surgical hypocortisolism was predicted with 100% probability by elevated UFC plus MSC levels, but not ruled out even in the presence of the normality of all HPA axis parameters.ConclusionPost-surgical hypocortisolism cannot be pre-surgically ruled out. A steroid substitutive therapy is indicated after unilateral adrenalectomy for SH or size of the adenoma.


Endocrine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierpaolo Falcetta ◽  
Francesca Orsolini ◽  
Elena Benelli ◽  
Patrizia Agretti ◽  
Paolo Vitti ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the risk of mass enlargement and endocrine function modification in patients with adrenal incidentaloma (AI). Methods In this retrospective study, we examined clinical and hormonal characteristics of 310 patients with AI (200 females and 110 males; age: 58.3 ± 12.9 years), followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 31.4 months (13.0–78.6) and evaluated for possible modification in adrenal mass size and hormonal function. The hormonal evaluation included morning serum cortisol and plasma ACTH at 8 a.m., aldosterone, plasma renin activity/direct renin concentration, and 24-h urine metanephrines/normetanephrines. One microgram overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed. Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) was diagnosed in the presence of cortisol after 1 mg DST > 5 μg/dl (138 nmol/l) or >1.8 and ≤5 μg/dl (50–138 nmol/l) and at least one of the following: (i) low ACTH; (ii) increased 24-h urinary-free cortisol; (iii) absence of cortisol rhythm; and (iv) post-LDDST cortisol level > 1.8 μg/dl (50 nmol/l). When there was no biochemical evidence of adrenal hormonal hyperactivity, AIs were classified as nonfunctioning (NFAIs). The mass was considered significantly enlarged when the size increase was more than 20% and at least 5 mm compared to baseline. Results At diagnosis, NFAIs were found in 209 patients, while ACS and overt adrenal hyperfunction were diagnosed in 81 and 20 patients, respectively. During follow-up, 3.3% and 1.5% of patients with NFAI developed subtle and overt endocrine hyperfunction, respectively, while a significant mass enlargement was observed in 17.7% of all AIs. The risk of developing ACS was significantly higher in patients with adenoma >28 mm (hazard ratio [HR] 12.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33–66.52, P = 0.003), in those with bilateral adrenal tumors (HR: 5.36; 95% CI, 1.17–24.48, P = 0.030), and with low/suppressed ACTH values (HR: 11.2, 95% CI 2.06–60.77; P = 0.005). The risk of mass enlargement was lower for patients in the fourth quartile of body mass index than those in the first quartile (HR 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14–0.78; P = 0.012). Conclusions In patients with AI, the risk of developing hormonal hyperfunction and mass enlargement is overall low, although some tumor characteristics and anthropometric features might increase this risk. Taking account of all these aspects is important for planning a tailored follow-up in AI patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (12) ◽  
pp. 827-834
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sheikh-Ahmad ◽  
Gabriel Dickstein ◽  
Ibrahim Matter ◽  
Carmela Shechner ◽  
Jacob Bejar ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) is characterized by benign bilateral enlarged adrenal masses, causing Cushing’s syndrome (CS). The aim of the current article is to define the role of unilateral adrenalectomy (UA) in treating patients with CS related to PBMAH. Methods A PubMed database search was conducted to identify articles reporting UA to treat PBMAH. We also report cases of PBMAH from our medical center treated by UA. Results A total number of 71 cases of PBMAH (62 cases reported in the literature and 9 cases from our center) are presented. Most patients were women (73.2%) and most UA involved the left side (64.3%). In most cases, the resected gland was the larger one. Following UA, 94.4% of cases had remission of hypercortisolism. Recurrence rate of CS was 19.4% and hypoadrenalism occurred in 29.6%. After UA, when the size of the remained adrenal gland was equal or greater than 3.5 cm, CS persisted in 21.4% of cases, and recurrence occurred in 27.3% of cases (after 20±9.2 months). However, when the size of the remained gland was less than 3.5 cm, CS resolved in all cases and recurrence occurred in 21.2% of cases after a long period (65.6±52.1 months). High levels of urinary free cortisol (UFC) were not correlated with post-surgical CS recurrence or persistence. Conclusions UA leads to beneficial outcomes in patients with CS related to PBMAH, also in cases with pre-surgical elevated UFC or contralateral large gland.


2010 ◽  
Vol 163 (6) ◽  
pp. 925-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Eller-Vainicher ◽  
Valentina Morelli ◽  
Antonio Stefano Salcuni ◽  
Claudia Battista ◽  
Massimo Torlontano ◽  
...  

ContextIt is unknown whether the metabolic effects of the removal of an adrenal incidentaloma (AI) can be predicted by the assessment of cortisol hypersecretion before surgery.ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of several criteria of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in predicting the metabolic outcome after adrenalectomy.DesignRetrospective longitudinal study.PatientsIn 55 surgically treated AI patients (Group 1) before surgery and in 53 nontreated AI patients (Group 2) at the baseline, urinary free cortisol (UFC), cortisol after 1 mg overnight dexamethasone-suppression test (1 mg-DST), ACTH, and midnight serum cortisol (MSC) were measured. In Groups 1 and 2, metabolic parameters were evaluated before and 29.6±13.8 months after surgery and at the baseline and after 35.2±10.9 months respectively.Main outcome measuresThe improvement/worsening of weight, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels (endpoints) was defined by the presence of a >5% weight decrease/increase and following the European Society of Cardiology or the ATP III criteria respectively. The accuracy of UFC, 1 mg-DST, ACTH, and MSC, singularly taken or in combination, in predicting the improvement/worsening of ≥2 endpoints was calculated.ResultsThe presence of ≥2 among UFC>70 μg/24 h (193 nmol/l), ACTH<10 pg/ml (2.2 pmol/l), 1 mg-DST>3.0 μg/dl (83 nmol/l) (UFC–ACTH–DST criterion) had the best accuracy in predicting the endpoints' improvement (sensitivity (SN) 65.2%, specificity (SP) 68.8%) after surgery. In the nontreated AI patients, this criterion predicted the worsening of ≥2 endpoints (SN 55.6%, SP 82.9%).ConclusionsThe UFC–ACTH–DST criterion seems to be the best for predicting the metabolic outcome in surgically treated AI patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Koki Chiba ◽  
Hiraku Kameda ◽  
Hiroshi Nomoto ◽  
Kyu Yong Cho ◽  
Akinobu Nakamura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by hyperthyroxinemia without symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, due to a high affinity of mutant albumin for thyroxine. No report has described cortisol-albumin binding in FDH patient, and here we present a case of FDH presenting with false hypercortisolemia. Clinical Case: A 46-year man, previously diagnosed with FDH by genetic test (1), was pointed out hypercortisolemia with normal ACTH level (ACTH 64.7 pg/mL, Cortisol 34.7 μg/dL) during the investigation for Parkinson’s syndrome and referred to our department for further examination. Cortisol was 7.1 μg/dL at midnight, 14.9 μg/dL after low dose dexamethasone overnight test, and DDAVP test was positive. ACTH and cortisol responded to CRH load, although basal and peak cortisol levels were high (35.4 and 53.9 μg/dL, respectively). High dose dexamethasone overnight test showed suppressed ACTH and cortisol, and MRI showed no obvious pituitary adenoma. In spite of significant high cortisol level, no Cushing sign’s or metabolic abnormalities were observed and urinary free cortisol was within the normal range (30.7 μg/day), suggesting the presence of factors affecting the laboratory testing. We removed albumin from serum with immunoprecipitation using anti-albumin antibody and measured cortisol with LC-MS/MS. The decrease of cortisol was 4% in control serum but 38% in the patient serum after removing albumin, suggesting the binding rate of cortisol to mutant albumin in the patient was increased, leading to false hypercortisolemia. Conclusion: This is the first case demonstrating the false hypercortisolemia in a FDH patient. Clinicians should consider the possibility of the abnormal cortisol binding to albumin in differential diagnosis of hypercortisolemia with normal ACTH level. Reference: (1) Norio Wada, et al: A Novel Missense Mutation in Codon 218 of the Albumin Gene in a Distinct Phenotype of Familial Dysalbuminemic Hyperthyroxinemia in a Japanese Kindred. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 1997;82;3246–3250


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-64
Author(s):  
David E. Goldstein ◽  
Peter König

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was investigated in 15 asthmatic children treated with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (mean 490 µg/day) and 11 asthmatic control subjects receiving no corticosteroid therapy. Measurements of 24-h urinary free cortisol and 17 hydroxy corticosteroids, serum cortisol, response to ACTH, and the oral metyrapone test showed no significant difference between the two groups. All the patients' results were within normal limits, and carbohydrate metabolism, as shown by blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c, was not affected by beclomethasone therapy. Thus, in the above dose, inhaled beclomethasone does not cause suppression of the hypothalamic--pituitary-adrenal axis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 168 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Morelli ◽  
S Palmieri ◽  
A S Salcuni ◽  
C Eller-Vainicher ◽  
E Cairoli ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe possible different prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidaemia (DL) and vertebral fractures (FX) between patients with bilateral and unilateral adrenal incidentalomas (BAI and UAI, respectively) with and without subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) is unknown. In this study we compared the prevalence of AH, T2DM, DL and FX in BAI and UAI patients in relation to SH.DesignProspective study.MethodsIn 175 UAI and 38 BAI patients, we evaluated BMI, spinal and femoral bone mineral density (LS and FN BMD, respectively) and the presence of AH, T2DM, DL and FX. SH was diagnosed in the presence of ≥2 of the following: urinary free cortisol levels >193 nmol/24 h, serum cortisol levels after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test >83 nmol/l or ACTH levels <2.2 pmol/l.ResultsAge, BMI and cortisol secretion were comparable, while FN BMD was lower in BAI than in UAI patients (−0.45±0.86 vs 0.09±1.07, P=0.004). The prevalence of SH, AH, T2DM, and DL was comparable, while the prevalence of FX was higher in BAI than in UAI (52.6 vs 28%, P=0.007). The presence of FX was associated with BAI (odds ratio (OR) 2.6, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2–5.6, P=0.016), after adjusting for SH (OR 1.77, 95% CI 0.85–3.7, P=0.12), BMI (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.98–1.13, P=0.1), age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.11, P=0.0001) and LS BMD (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03–1.67, P=0.03).ConclusionBAI patients have an increased FX risk than UAI ones. Further studies should investigate the causes of bone involvement in BAI patients.


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