Abstract
Background: Adrenal incidentaloma is an adrenal mass larger than 1cm accidentally discovered by radiological examination. The incidentalomas should be evaluated for malignancy and functionality. The prevalence of adrenal incidentaloma is 4–10%,1 and around 10–15% of incidentally discovered adrenal masses can be bilateral.2 We present a patient with bilateral adrenal masses due to primary adrenal lymphoma. Clinical Case: 74-year-old gentleman, with past medical history of type-2 Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, presented to our hospital with 2 months history of right-sided flank pain, 20 kg weight loss, loss of appetite and dizziness. Otherwise, no fever, night sweats, bleeding per rectum or urinary symptoms. On physical examination, vital signs were within normal, no remarkable findings other than tenderness over the right flank. Complete blood count and chemistry panel were within normal. Abdominal CT scan was done for evaluation of the abdominal pain which showed two large masses replacing the adrenal glands measure about 10cm in diameter with patchy areas of enhancement. Adrenal insufficiency was suspected based on the symptoms and the CT scan findings. Short syncatin test (high-dose test 250mcg) was done, which showed a cortisol baseline 152nmol/L, 30 minutes 168nmol/L, and 60 minutes 169nmol/L. This was suggestive of adrenal insufficiency, so he was started on hydrocortisone. Screening for pheochromocytoma was done as the patient developed uncontrolled BP readings prior to a scheduled adrenal biopsy. 24-hour urine metanephrines and normetanephrine were negative. CT-guided adrenal mass biopsy showed findings suggestive of large B-cell lymphoma. FDG PET-CT scan showed huge bilateral intense FDG uptake in the adrenal glands with no extra-abdominal manifestations noted. He was started on R-CHOP chemotherapy and after 4cycles, a PET scan showed a significant decrease in the size of previous adrenal masses.
Conclusion: Bilateral adrenal incidentaloma should be evaluated the same as unilateral adrenal mass. Although adrenal involvement is common in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, primary adrenal lymphoma is extremely uncommon.
References
1.Bovio S, Cataldi A, Reimondo G, Sperone P, Novello S, Berruti A, Borasio P, Fava C, Dogliotti L, Scagliotti GV, Angeli A, Terzolo M. Prevalence of adrenal incidentaloma in a contemporary computerized tomography series. J Endocrinol Invest. 2006 Apr;29(4):298–302. doi: 10.1007/BF03344099. PMID: 16699294.
2.Angeli A, Osella G, Alì A, Terzolo M. Adrenal incidentaloma: an overview of clinical and epidemiological data from the National Italian Study Group. Horm Res. 1997;47(4–6):279–83. doi: 10.1159/000185477. PMID: 9167965.
Massive bilateral adrenal mass with adrenal insufficiency: a case report of primary adrenal lymphoma
