Abrupt enlargement of adrenal incidentaloma: a case of isolated adrenal metastasis

Endocr J. 2005 Dec;52(6):785-8. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.52.785.

Abstract

A 56-year-old Japanese man was referred for examination of right adrenal tumor (3 cm). He had no apparent preexisting cancer by radiological workup and accordingly, the patient was considered as a nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenoma and scheduled for periodic CT scans every 6 months. However, five months after the initial diagnosis the patient complained of severe right back pain with remarkable enlargement of both adrenals (~20-fold volume). Although the origin of adrenal tumor was uncertain by pathological workup, positron emission tomography (PET) scan with (18)F-2-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose (FDG) eventually revealed a hot spot on left upper lung, which was consistent with a lesion of thickened bulla wall observed by chest CT. The present case is a very rare example of abrupt enlargement of bilateral adrenals due to clinically isolated adrenal metastasis, suggesting the requirement of frequent observation with greatest care regarding morphologic changes of adrenal incidentalomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / blood
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Adrenal Glands / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / blood
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / diagnosis*
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Incidental Findings
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiography
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone