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Open access

A case of unilateral post-COVID-19 adrenal haemorrhage and follow-up during pregnancies

Alessandra Mangone, Quratulain Yousuf, Wiebke Arlt, Alessandro Prete, Fozia Shaheen, Senthil-kumar Krishnasamy, Yasir S Elhassan, and Cristina L Ronchi

Summary

The spectrum of endocrine-related complications of COVID-19 infection is expanding; one of the most concerning of which is adrenal haemorrhage due to the risk of catastrophic adrenal crisis. In this study, we present a case that highlights the challenging management of a large, indeterminate unilateral adrenal mass during pregnancy and draws attention to a rare yet probably underestimated complication of COVID-19. During hospitalization for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, a 26-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a 12.5 cm heterogeneous left adrenal mass. Soon after the discovery, she became pregnant and upon referral, she was in the seventh week of gestation, without clinical or biochemical features of hormonal excess. The uncertainty of the diagnosis and the risks of malignancy and surgical intervention were discussed with the patient, and a period of radiological surveillance was agreed upon. An MRI scan performed 3 months later showed a size reduction of the adrenal lesion to 7.9 cm, which was against malignancy. A Doppler ultrasound showed a non-vascular, well-defined round lesion consistent with an adrenal haematoma, likely a complication of the recent COVID-19 infection. The multidisciplinary team recommended further radiological follow-up. The patient then spontaneously had miscarriage at 12 weeks gestation. Subsequent radiological surveillance showed a further size reduction of the adrenal lesion to 5.5 cm. The patient conceived again during follow-up, and the repeated Doppler ultrasound showed stable appearances of the adrenal mass, and thus, it was agreed to continue radiological monitoring after delivery. The pregnancy was uneventful, and the patient delivered a healthy baby. An MRI scan performed after delivery showed a stable but persistent lesion consistent with a likely underlying adrenal lesion.

Learning points

  • Unilateral adrenal haemorrhage can occur as a complication of COVID-19 and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of heterogeneous adrenal masses if there is a history of recent infection.

  • Management of large indeterminate adrenal masses during pregnancy poses several challenges and should be led by an experienced multidisciplinary team.

  • Underlying adrenal tumours may trigger non-traumatic haemorrhages, especially if exacerbated by stressful illness.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0337
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

De novo purely prostatic large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with thyroid and adrenal metastases

Evangelos Karvounis, Ioannis Zoupas, Dimitra Bantouna, Rodis D Paparodis, Roxani Efthymiadou, Christina Ioakimidou, and Christos Panopoulos

Summary

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare neuroendocrine prostatic malignancy. It usually arises after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), while de novo cases are even more infrequent, with only six cases described. The patient was a 78-year-old man with no history of ADT who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy. Diagnostic approaches included PET/CT, MRI, CT scans, ultrasonography, biopsies, and cytological and immunohistochemical evaluations. Results showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma in the thyroid gland accompanied by cervical lymph node enlargement. Thyroid surgery revealed LCNEC metastasis to the thyroid gland. Additional metastases were identified in both the adrenal glands. Despite appropriate treatment, the patient died of the disease. De novo LCNEC of the prostate is a rare, highly aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. It is resistant to most therapeutic agents, has a high metastatic potential, and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Further studies are required to characterize this tumor.

Learning points

  • De novo LCNECs of the prostate gland can metastasize almost anywhere in the body, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.

  • LCNECs of the prostate are usually associated with androgen-depriving therapy, but de novo cases are also notable and should be accounted for.

  • Further studies are required to fully understand and treat LCNECs more effectively.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0301
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

A serious and unusual presentation of congenital isolated ACTH deficiency due to TBX19 mutation, beyond the neonatal period

Inês Henriques Vieira, Nádia Mourinho Bala, Fabiana Ramos, Isabel Dinis, Rita Cardoso, Joana Serra Caetano, Dírcea Rodrigues, Isabel Paiva, and Alice Mirante

Summary

Congenital isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency due to T-box transcription factor-19 (TBX19 mutation) (MIM 201400; ORPHA 199296) usually presents in the neonatal period with severe hypoglycemia, seizures, and sometimes prolonged cholestatic jaundice. We report a case with an unusual presentation that delayed the diagnosis. A 9-month-old female patient with no relevant personal history was admitted to the emergency department due to a hypoglycemic seizure in the context of acute gastroenteritis. There was rapid recovery after glucose administration. At age 4, she presented with tonic-clonic seizures, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms and came to need support in an intensive care unit. Low serum cortisol was documented and hydrocortisone was initiated. After normalization of inflammatory parameters, the patient was discharged with hydrocortisone. The genetic investigation was requested and compound heterozygous mutations in TBX19 were detected. This is a rare case of presentation of TBX19 mutation outside the neonatal period and in the setting of acute disease, which presented a diagnostic challenge.

Learning points

  • Congenital isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency due to TBX19 mutation usually presents with neonatal hypoglycemia and prolonged cholestatic jaundice.

  • An uneventful neonatal period, however, does not exclude the diagnosis as the disease may be asymptomatic at this stage.

  • In the context of idiopathic hypoglycemia, even in the context of acute disease, hypocortisolism must always be excluded.

  • Genetic evaluation should be performed in cases of congenital central hypocortisolism to allow proper counselling.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0277
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

An extremely rare case of calcinosis cutis in human Cushing’s disease

Najoua Rbiai, Ikram Mahroug, Nada Zizi, and Hanane Latrech

Summary

Cushing’s disease or pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome is considered a rare condition. It is caused by hypersecretion of the ACTH by a pituitary adenoma that ultimately induces endogenous hypercortisolism by stimulating the adrenal glands. It is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism are usually common and non-specific including obesity, moon face, hypertension, hirsutism and facial plethora. The association between Cushing’s disease and calcinosis cutis which is defined as dystrophic calcium deposition in the skin and subcutaneous tissues is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been described previously in humans, probably like a symptom or complication of chronic and severe hypercortisolism. In this paper, we report a case of a 30-year-old female diagnosed with Cushing’s disease and presented bilateral leg’s calcinosis cutis complicated with ulceration. The evolution was favorable and the complete cicatrization was obtained 12 months following the suppression of systemic glucocorticoid excess.

Learning points

  • Calcinosis cutis is common in autoimmune connective diseases. However, to our knowledge, it has never been reported in humans with Cushing’s disease.

  • Given the rarity of this association, the diagnostic approach to calcinosis cutis must exclude the other etiologies.

  • Calcinosis cutis is challenging to treat with no gold standard therapy. In our case, the use of the combination of colchicine and bisphosphonates does not significantly improve the patient’s outcomes. In fact, we suppose that without treating the endogenous hypercortisolism, the calcinosis cutis will not resolve.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0113
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

An incidental finding behind adrenal incidentaloma

Filippo Crimì, Giulio Barbiero, Irene Tizianel, Laura Evangelista, and Filippo Ceccato

Summary

A 61-year-old man went to the Emergency Department with left upper abdominal quadrant pain and low-grade fever, as well as a loss of weight (3 kg in 6 weeks). A solid-cystic lesion in the left adrenal lodge was discovered by abdominal ultrasonography. A slight increase in the serum amylase with normal lipase was observed, but there were no signs or symptoms of pancreatitis. A contrast-enhanced CT revealed a tumor that was suspected of adrenocortical cancer. Therefore, he was referred to the endocrine unit. The hormonal evaluation revealed no signs of excessive or inadequate adrenal secretion. To characterize the mass, an MRI was performed; the lesion showed an inhomogeneous fluid collection with peripheral wall contrast-enhancement, as well as a minor 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at PET/CT images. The risk of primary adrenal cancer was minimal after the multidisciplinary discussion. An acute necrotic collection after focal pancreatitis was suspected, according to the characteristics of imaging. Both CT-guided drainage of the necrotic accumulation and laboratory analysis of the aspirated fluid confirmed the diagnosis.

Learning points

  • Different types of expansive processes can mimic adrenal incidentalomas.

  • Necrotic collection after acute focal pancreatitis could be misdiagnosed as an adrenal mass, since its CT characteristics could be equivocal.

  • MRI has stronger capacities than CT in differentiating complex lesions of the adrenal lodge.

  • A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental in the management of patients with a newly discovered adrenal incidentaloma and equivocal/suspicious imaging features (low lipid content and size >4 cm).

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0255
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome from an ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma with a non-functioning pituitary adenoma

David Kishlyansky, Gregory Kline, Amita Mahajan, Konstantin Koro, Janice L Pasieka, and Patrick Champagne

Summary

An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pheochromocytoma (PCC)/paraganglioma is the cause of ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in 5.2% of cases reported in the literature. We present a previously healthy 43-year-old woman admitted to our hospital with cushingoid features and hypertensive urgency (blood pressure = 200/120 mmHg). Her 24-h urinary free cortisol was >4270 nmol/day (reference range (RR) = 100–380 nmol/day) with a plasma ACTH of 91.5 pmol/L (RR: 2.0–11.5 pmol/L). Twenty-four-hour urinary metanephrines were increased by 30-fold. Whole-body CT demonstrated a 3.7-cm left adrenal mass with a normal-appearing right adrenal gland. Sellar MRI showed a 5-mm sellar lesion. MIBG scan revealed intense uptake only in the left adrenal mass. She was managed pre-operatively with ketoconazole and phenoxybenzamine and underwent an uneventful left laparoscopic adrenalectomy, which resulted in biochemical resolution of her hypercortisolemia and catecholamine excess. Histology demonstrated a PCC (Grading System for Adrenal Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma score 5) with positive ACTH staining by immunohistochemistry. A PCC gene panel showed no mutations and there has been no evidence of recurrence at 24 months. This case highlights the difficult nature of localizing the source of CS in the setting of a co-existing PCC and sellar mass.

Learning points

  • An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pheochromocytoma (PCC) is an important item to be considered in all patients presenting with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (CS).

  • In exceptionally rare cases, patients with ectopic CS may present with multiple lesions, and a systematic approach considering all potential sources is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis.

  • CS with a large adrenal mass but lacking contralateral adrenal atrophy should raise suspicion of an ACTH-dependent process.

  • In patients with clinical suspicion of PCC, clinicians should be mindful of the use of steroids and beta-blockers without appropriate alpha blockade as they may precipitate an adrenergic crisis.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0189
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

COVID-19 and Cushing’s disease in a patient with ACTH-secreting pituitary carcinoma

J M K de Filette, Bastiaan Sol, Gil Awada, Corina E Andreescu, David Unuane, Sandrine Aspeslagh, Jan Poelaert, and Bert Bravenboer

Summary

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is of an unprecedented magnitude and has made it challenging to properly treat patients with urgent or rare endocrine disorders. Little is known about the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rare endocrine malignancies, such as pituitary carcinoma. We describe the case of a 43-year-old patient with adrenocorticotrophic hormone-secreting pituitary carcinoma who developed a severe COVID-19 infection. He had stabilized Cushing’s disease after multiple lines of treatment and was currently receiving maintenance immunotherapy with nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks) and steroidogenesis inhibition with ketoconazole (800 mg daily). On admission, he was urgently intubated for respiratory exhaustion. Supplementation of corticosteroid requirements consisted of high-dose dexamethasone, in analogy with the RECOVERY trial, followed by the reintroduction of ketoconazole under the coverage of a hydrocortisone stress regimen, which was continued at a dose depending on the current level of stress. He had a prolonged and complicated stay at the intensive care unit but was eventually discharged and able to continue his rehabilitation. The case points out that multiple risk factors for severe COVID-19 are present in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. ‘Block-replacement’ therapy with suppression of endogenous steroidogenesis and supplementation of corticosteroid requirements might be preferred in this patient population.

Learning points

  • Comorbidities for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are frequently present in patients with Cushing’s syndrome.

  • ‘Block-replacement’ with suppression of endogenous steroidogenesis and supplementation of corticosteroid requirements might be preferred to reduce the need for biochemical monitoring and avoid adrenal insufficiency.

  • The optimal corticosteroid dose/choice for COVID-19 is unclear, especially in patients with endogenous glucocorticoid excess.

  • First-line surgery vs initial disease control with steroidogenesis inhibitors for Cushing’s disease should be discussed depending on the current healthcare situation.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0182
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Pitfalls and progress in adrenocortical carcinoma diagnosis: the utility of a multidisciplinary approach, immunohistochemistry and genomics

Ray Wang, Benjamin Solomon, Stephen J Luen, Owen W.J. Prall, Christine Khoo, Anthony J Gill, Jeremy Lewin, and Nirupa Sachithanandan

Summary

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare disease with poor prognosis whose clinical heterogeneity can at times present a challenge to accurate and timely diagnosis. We present the case of a patient who presented with extensive pulmonary lesions, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and an adrenal mass in whom the oncological diagnosis was initially uncertain. Through the use of immunohistochemistry, biochemistry and genomic testing, an accurate diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma was ultimately made which resulted in more directed treatment being administered. The use of multidisciplinary input and genomics to aid in diagnosis and prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma is discussed.

Learning points

  • Adrenocortical carcinomas can present a diagnostic challenge to clinicians given it is a rare malignancy with significant clinical heterogeneity.

  • Specialist multidisciplinary team input is vital in the diagnosis and management of adrenocortical carcinomas.

  • Hormonal testing is recommended in the diagnostic workup of adrenal masses, even in the absence of overt clinical signs/symptoms of hormone excess.

  • Immunostaining for the highly sensitive and specific steroidogenic factor-1 is vital for accurate diagnosis.

  • Genomics can provide prognostic utility in management of adrenocortical carcinoma.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0081
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Bilateral adrenal masses due to tuberculosis: how to diagnose without extra-adrenal tuberculosis

Nam Quang Tran, Chien Cong Phan, Thao Thi Phuong Doan, and Thang Viet Tran

Summary

Primary adrenal insufficiency is a rare disease and can masquerade as other conditions; therefore, it is sometimes incorrectly diagnosed. Herein, we reported the case of a 39-year-old Vietnamese male with primary adrenal insufficiency due to bilateral adrenal tuberculosis. The patient presented to the emergency room with acute adrenal crisis and a 3-day history of nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and diarrhoea with a background of 6 months of fatigue, weight loss, and anorexia. Abdominal CT revealed bilateral adrenal masses. Biochemically, unequivocal low morning plasma cortisol (<83 nmol/L) and high plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were consistent with primary adrenal insufficiency. There was no evidence of malignancy or lymphoma. As the patient was from a tuberculosis-endemic area, extra-adrenal tuberculosis was excluded during the work up. A retroperitoneal laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed, and tuberculous adrenalitis was confirmed by the histopathological results. The patient was started on antituberculous therapy, in addition to glucocorticoid replacement. In conclusion, even without evidence of extra-adrenal tuberculosis, a diagnosis of bilateral adrenal tuberculosis is required. A histopathological examination has a significant role along with clinical judgement and hormonal workup in establishing a definitive diagnosis of adrenal tuberculosis without evidence of active extra-adrenal involvement.

Learning points

  • Primary adrenal insufficiency can be misdiagnosed as other mimicking diseases, such as gastrointestinal illness, leading to diagnostic pitfalls.

  • Adrenal insufficiency can be confirmed with significantly low morning plasma cortisol levels of <83 nmol/L without a dynamic short cosyntropin stimulation test.

  • Tuberculous adrenalitis is an uncommon treatable condition; however, it remains an important cause of primary adrenal insufficiency, especially in developing countries. In the absence of extra-adrenal involvement, adrenal biopsy plays a key role in the diagnostic process. Alternatively, adrenalectomy for histopathological purposes should be considered if CT scan-guided fine needle aspiration is infeasible in cases of small adrenal masses.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0093
Volume 2021: Issue 1
Open access

Pheochromocytoma due to a novel SDHD variant presenting as unilateral visual loss

Clare Miller, Agnieszka Pazderska, John Reynolds, Patricia Gou, Barbara Dunne, Kealan McElhinney, and Lisa Owens

Summary

A 53-year-old female presented to a tertiary ophthalmology referral centre complaining of unilateral painless loss of vision. Subsequent assessment revealed malignant hypertension causing right-sided cystoid macular oedema. During the course of secondary hypertension workup, she was diagnosed with a 7.8 cm phaeochromocytoma which was resected. Testing for a panel of all predisposing phaeochromocytoma-causing variants using next-generation sequencing resulted in the diagnosis of a novel SDHD variant.

Learning points

  • Screening for secondary causes of hypertension is indicated when there is evidence of hypertension-mediated end-organ damage ().

  • Testing for a predisposing variant should be considered in all patients with phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma due to the high heritability rate and prevalence of somatic variants (, , ).

  • Novel variants are commonly uncovered in the Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) subunit; proving pathogenicity is a complex, time-consuming process and one challenge of next-generation sequencing ().

  • SDHB immunohistochemistry as a tool for demonstrating pathogenicity is associated with reduced sensitivity when assessing SDHD variants (, ).

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0107
Volume 2021: Issue 1