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HOME > Endocrinol Metab > Volume 33(3); 2018 > Article
Letter
An Ectopic Cortisol-Producing Adrenocortical Adenoma Masquerading as a Liposarcoma in the Pararenal Space
Sunyoung Kang1orcid, Seung Shin Park1orcid, Jae Hyun Bae1orcid, Kyu Eun Lee2orcid, Jung Hee Kim1orcid, Chan Soo Shin1orcid
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2018;33(3):423-424.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2018.33.3.423
Published online: August 14, 2018

1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of General Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Chan Soo Shin. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2072-3734, Fax: +82-2-765-3734, csshin@snu.ac.kr
• Received: May 31, 2018   • Accepted: June 18, 2018

Copyright © 2018 Korean Endocrine Society

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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58-year-old man complained of abdominal distension and a moon-shaped face that had lasted for 3 years. The patient had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension 5 years ago. Biochemical tests revealed adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing syndrome. However, a computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral adrenal gland atrophy and a liposarcoma-like mass in the right pararenal space, and the irregularly enhanced mass was deeply surrounded by fat. Needle biopsy indicated an eosinophilic epithelioid cell tumor. The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor through laparotomy. Microscopic examination favored ectopic adrenocortical neoplasm with a low risk of malignancy (Weiss score 1) and the immunohistochemical stain of the tumor was positive for Melan A and inhibin α, which are positive in over 80% of adrenal cortical tumors [12]. The patient's blood pressure and glycemic control improved after surgery. His serum cortisol levels decreased, but the patient has been taking steroids due to postoperative adrenal insufficiency.
Ectopic adrenocortical adenoma is rare, and most of these tumors are located along the pathway of embryonic migration within the urogenital tract [3]. Ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors are not uncommon, but ectopic cortisol-producing tumors, especially in the pararenal sinus, are extremely rare [4]. Our case presented typical features of Cushing syndrome, but CT images suggested the presence of liposarcoma. This finding could lead to misdiagnosis and radical resection of the tumor, including radical nephrectomy [5]. Moreover, if clinicians are not prepared for postoperative adrenal insufficiency, patients can experience adrenal crisis.
In cases of ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome without mass-like lesions on both adrenal glands, clinicians should suspect a cortisol-producing adrenal rest tumor.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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