Adrenal myelolipoma associated with hyperandrogenemia

Abstract

Adrenal myelolipoma associated with hyperandrogenemia is extremely rare. We present such a case here. The patient was a 34-year-old Chinese woman with a history of growth retardation, virilization and lumbago. Adrenal imaging showed a circular soft tissue mass in the right adrenal gland. Endocrine examinations showed increased levels of plasma testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, significantly lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, with other biochemical parameters being basically normal. After a histopathological study confirming the mass to be an adrenal myelolipoma, the patient was managed with a right adrenalectomy and then recovered. A search of the English and Japanese language literature suggests this is the first detailed and documented case of adrenal myelolipoma associated with hyperandrogenemia.