Functional Adrenal Adenoma Research Articles

Metastatic adenocarcinoma within a functioning adrenal adenoma: a case report

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman who underwent right adrenalectomy for palliation of Cushing’s symptoms. She had recently been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Pathologic findings revealed a 5 cm adrenal adenoma with a metastatic adenocarcinoma deposit. The occurrence of tumor-to-tumor metastasis is rare, and the finding of a metastasis within a functional adrenal adenoma exceptionally so. Previously reported incidences of this finding in patients with lung cancer range from 0.14% to 0.63%. We review the literature regarding this unusual finding.

Case of pemphigus foliaceus that shifted into pemphigus vulgaris after adrenal tumor resection

A 79-year-old Japanese woman visited our hospital on 6 May 2003, who had suffered from erythema and crusted vesicles located on the head, face and trunk. The eruptions first appeared in February 2003. Histopathological findings included blister formation spreading from just below the horny layers to the upper squamous layers, where acantholytic cells were observed. Direct immunofluorescence disclosed immunoglobulin G depositions in the epidermal intercellular spaces. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed an elevated titer of anti-desmoglein (Dsg)1 autoantibodies (154 index value), but almost normal levels of anti-Dsg3 autoantibodies (8 index value in serum). The diagnosis at first was made as pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Topical use of corticosteroids alone could control the eruptions well. Systemic examinations on admission revealed a right adrenal tumor that had caused Cushing's syndrome. Its resection was performed on 24 July 2003. Histopathological diagnosis of the removed tumor was a functional adrenal adenoma. The symptoms had worsened after the resection. Topical use of corticosteroids alone could no longer control the symptoms. Additional p.o. medications of minocycline hydrochloride and nicotinic acid amides improved the symptoms to some extent. However, oral cavity erosions appeared in December 2004, and the titer of anti-Dsg3 autoantibodies in serum elevated, suggesting a transition from PF to pemphigus vulgaris (PV). p.o. administration of corticosteroids started, which improved the symptoms significantly. To date, there have been no reports of pemphigus complicated with an adrenal tumor that caused Cushing's syndrome in Japan. The present case is particularly interesting in that the symptoms became worse after the tumor resection and that the first diagnosis of PF shifted into PV after the operation.

Proliferative activity and genetic changes in adrenal cortical tumors examined by flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

To determine differences in biological features among different adrenal tumors, we investigated the DNA ploidy, numerical chromosomal aberration and proliferative activity in human adrenal cortical neoplasms. Our study included six adrenal cortical adenomas with Cushing syndrome, 12 adenomas with hyperaldosteronism, three non-functioning adenomas and three adrenal cortical carcinomas. Isolated nuclei from frozen samples were used for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from the same materials were analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM) for DNA ploidy. Sections from paraffin blocks were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against Ki-67 and p53. For FISH analysis, we used an alpha-centromeric enumeration probe for chromosome 17. The mean Ki-67 labeling index (LI) of adrenal cortical carcinomas was markedly higher than that of adrenal cortical adenomas (209.4 vs 8.7). In functional adrenal cortical adenomas, the LI was significantly lower in adenomas with hyperaldosteronism than in those with Cushing syndrome (P = 0.004), although FCM results indicated that tetraploid patterns were more frequently observed in the former type. Tumor size was significantly smaller in adenomas with hyperaldosteronism than in those with Cushing syndrome (P = 0.004). Chromosome 17 showed disomy in all adrenal cortical adenomas, whereas chromosome 17 abnormalities were found in two of three adrenal cortical carcinomas. Only the latter two cases strongly expressed p53 protein. Our study characterized various biological features of benign and malignant adrenal cortical tumors. The use of a combination of markers might provide additional information to assist our understanding of the clinical behavior of an individual adrenal cortical tumor.

Small functional adrenal cortical adenoma: treatment with CT-guided percutaneous acetic acid injection--report of three cases.

Two patients with Conn syndrome and one patient with Cushing syndrome underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided tumor ablation with a total of 5-11 mL of 50% acetic acid injected into their adrenal nodule (1.3-3.3 cm in diameter). No major complications were encountered during or after the procedure. All patients were symptom free with normal laboratory test results for at least 1-year follow-up. CT images showed complete cystic change with tumor size regression. Our preliminary results suggest that percutaneous acetic acid injection is a safe and effective alternative for treatment of small functional adrenal cortical adenoma.

Massive Hemorrhagic Functional Adrenal Adenoma Histologically Mimicking Angiosarcoma Report of a Case with Immunohistochemical Study

We report the case of a massive hemorrhagic/thrombosed functional adrenal adenoma, a very uncommon mass lesion of the adrenal gland. The lesion contained large areas that histologically mimicked the pattern of an angiosarcoma. Immunoperoxidase staining confirmed that the vascular lining cells were positive for vimentin and negative for three vascular markers (factor VIII antigen, Ulex europaeus agglutinin I, thrombomodulin), cytokeratin, keratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and S100 antigen. Endothelial immunohistochemical markers can be useful as a diagnostic adjunct in differentiating this type of reactive hemorrhagic/thrombotic lesion from angiosarcoma.