Endocrine Journal
Online ISSN : 1348-4540
Print ISSN : 0918-8959
ISSN-L : 0918-8959
ORIGINALS
Virilizing Adrenocortical Adenoma with Cushing’s Syndrome, Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma and Hypergastrinemia in a Middle-Aged Woman
AYUMI FUKUSHIMAYOSUKE OKADATAKAHISA TANIKAWACHIE KAWAHARAHARUO MISAWAKAZUKO KANDAEMIKO MORITAHIRONOBU SASANOYOSHIYA TANAKA
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2003 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 179-187

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Abstract

We report a rare case of virilizing adrenocortical adenoma complicated with Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid papillary carcinoma and hypergastrinemia. A 45-year-old woman had a history of amenorrhea for 10 years, hypertension for 8 years, and diabetes mellitus for 3 years. Physical examination showed a masculinized woman with severe hirsutism, male-like baldness, deep voice, acne in the precordia, and clitorism. Plasma testosterone, DHEA-S and urinary 17-KS were high, and plasma cortisol level was it at the upper limit of the normal range, but it did not show a diurnal rhythm nor was suppressed by 2 and 8 mg of dexamethasone. Abdominal CT scan showed a left adrenal tumor (4.5 cm in size). Adrenal scintigram revealed uptake of the tracer on the left side, and plasma cortisol concentration was high in a blood sample from the left adrenal vein. Left adrenalectomy was performed. Histopathological features of resected adrenal tumor were consistent with those of adrenocortical adenoma, consisting of tumor cells with eosinophilic compact cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining for steroidogenic enzymes showed reactivity for P450scc, 3 beta-HSD, P450c17, P450c21 and P450c11. Plasma testosterone and cortisol levels decreased to the normal range postoperatively. The patient was also found to have a papillary thyroid carcinoma and hypergastrinemia. Our patient is a rare case of virilizing adrenocortical adenoma associated with Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid papillary carcinoma, and hypergastrinemia.

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© The Japan Endocrine Society
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