Summary

Menstrual cycle abnormalities are common in premenopausal females with Cushing’s syndrome, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Signs and symptoms found in Cushing’s syndrome overlap with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The patient is a 33-year-old female previously diagnosed by a gynecologist with PCOS and treated with oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for 2 years. She then discontinued her OCPs without consulting a clinician, resulting in amenorrhea for 6 months, for which she presented. She also had symptoms of depression and anxiety but had no other signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, except a plethoric face. Initial lab work showed evidence of central hypogonadism (low luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estrogen), so a complete anterior pituitary hormone workup was done. Her thyroid-stimulating hormone was also low with a low free T4 level. Prolactin level was normal, but surprisingly, her AM cortisol level was high. The Cushing’s syndrome workup revealed non-suppressed cortisol after a 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test and positive 24-h urine cortisol with suppressed adrenocorticotrophic hormone. A CT scan of her adrenal glands revealed a left adrenal adenoma. She underwent a left adrenalectomy, after which her menstrual cycles became regular again, and pituitary function has recovered.

Learning points

• In Cushing's syndrome, female patients can have menstrual abnormalities due to the high cortisol levels, which can affect gonadotrophin levels.

• We encourage clinicians to include Cushing's syndrome in the differential diagnosis of patients with central hypogonadism.

Summary

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is one of the most common inherited rare endocrine disorders. This case report presents two female siblings with delayed diagnosis of non-classical CAH 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (3βHSD2D/HSD3B2) despite early hospital admission and apparent CAH manifestations such as infections, hirsutism, menstrual disturbances, and PCOS phenotype. Initially, sister 1 was misdiagnosed with PCOS and then 11-hydroxylase deficiency (CYP11B1), based on ultrasound, biochemical findings, and negative genetic testing for 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CYP21A2). Additional diagnostic workup was performed when sister 2also presented with symptoms of androgen excess. Genetic testing for CAH/steroid disorders finally revealed that both siblings were compound heterozygous for two variants in the HSD3B2 gene: a frameshift variant, c.558dup, p.(Thr187Hisfs*17) and a novel missense variant, c.65T>C, p.(Leu22Ser). A Synacthen test showed an insufficient cortisol increase. In vitro studies of the variants in a cell model revealed loss of function for the p.(Thr187Hisfs*17) and partial activity for p.(Leu22Ser) confirming non-classic CAH. Overlapping symptomatology and lack of specialized knowledge on steroid biosynthesis and associated rarest forms of CAH may explain the delayed diagnosis. However, with newer diagnostic methods comprising a less biased approach, very rare forms of non-classical CAH may no longer be overlooked in the future.

Learning points

• Non-classic 3βHSD2 is likely underdiagnosed.

• Late diagnosis of mild non-classic 3βHSD2 does occur and one should be aware of this diagnosis.

• Early diagnosis of NCCAH may prevent many consequences such as severe hirsutism, prolonged menstrual irregularities, infertility, or even adrenal crisis with severe infections.

• Comprehensive steroid profiling and genetic testing should be used earlier, especially when in doubt about a diagnosis.

Summary

Pregnancy in the setting of metastatic paraganglioma is challenging, particularly in the context of tyrosine kinase use. We describe a 26-year-old female with a background of metastatic paraganglioma harboring a pathogenic SDHB variant, requiring sunitinib, which was withheld to facilitate the safe conception and delivery of a healthy baby. She required no alpha- or beta-blockade during her pregnancy and exhibited no signs of tumor progression or symptoms throughout this period. Historically, higher rates of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality have been experienced in the setting of pregnancy. Although limited data exist on the management of metastatic paraganglioma in pregnant patients, this case suggests that careful treatment modifications, such as temporary tyrosine kinase therapy cessation and vigilant monitoring, can result in successful pregnancies without compromising maternal or fetal well-being.

Learning points

• Paraganglioma in pregnancy has been associated with poor fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

• Many of the treatment modalities for metastatic paraganglioma, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, can affect fertility or cannot be utilized in pregnancy, necessitating the temporary suspension of these treatments.

• This case exemplifies that careful clinical and biochemical monitoring during pregnancy is required to avoid maternal and fetal harm while balancing the risk of disease progression off treatment.

Summary

A previously healthy 17-year-old female presented to the emergency department with complaints of vomiting, shortness of breath, and tachycardia. She was found to have an elevated blood glucose and was admitted for presumed new onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). During the admission, she was noted to have frequent episodes of hypoglycemia despite conservative insulin dosing and high urine output with glucosuria, which seemed out of proportion to her glucose levels and fluid status. She also had persistent hyponatremia despite normalization of blood glucose. Further work-up was initiated to investigate alternative or additional diagnoses to explain these atypical findings. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level was elevated, consistent with the diagnosis of Addison’s disease, which led to the subsequent diagnosis of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II (APS-2). This is one of the first reports in the literature of concurrent diagnosis of T1DM and Addison’s disease at initial presentation and demonstrates the importance of not anchoring to one diagnosis.

Learning points

• This case shows the importance of considering multiple diagnoses and investigating atypical signs and symptoms.

• This case highlights the importance of a thorough history including review of systems.

• Hyponatremia and recurrent hypoglycemia in a person with type 1 diabetes should raise suspicion for adrenal insufficiency.

• This case makes us consider the screening for Addison’s disease in a person with new onset type 1 diabetes in addition to autoimmune thyroid disease and celiac disease.

• People with an autoimmune disease should be monitored for other autoimmune diseases in the future.

Summary

Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage (NAH) occurs in up to 3% of infants and is the most common adrenal mass in newborns. The most common presentation of NAH is an asymptomatic palpable flank mass which resolves over time without intervention. In rare cases, NAH can present as hemorrhage, shock, or adrenal insufficiency. This case describes a preterm infant born with severe anemia in the setting of bilateral adrenal hemorrhages with resulting adrenal insufficiency. The infant was successfully treated with blood transfusions and steroids. This is a unique presentation of NAH as it was bilateral, presented with severe anemia, and resulted in prolonged adrenal insufficiency.

Learning points

• Consider adrenal hemorrhage for cases of severe anemia at birth.

• Adrenal insufficiency is a rare complication of adrenal hemorrhage.

• Adrenal recovery can take months, if not years.

Summary

Approximately 80% of adrenal incidentalomas are benign, and development into adrenal cortical cancer is extremely rare. This is a major reason behind clinical guidelines recommending surveillance of incidentalomas for a relatively short duration of up to 5 years. Surveillance of lesions less than 1 cm is not routinely recommended. A 70-year-old lady was diagnosed with a non-hyperfunctioning 8 mm right adrenal lesion. She underwent annual biochemical and radiological assessment for 5 years before surveillance was extended to 2-yearly intervals. The lesion was stable in size, and radiological characteristics were consistent with a benign adenoma. Seven years after the initial detection of the adrenal lesion, she developed acute abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a 7 cm right adrenal lesion, which was surgically resected and histologically confirmed to be adrenal cortical cancer. She died 1 year later. Clinical guidelines have moved towards a shortened duration of surveillance of incidentalomas. Even though malignant transformation is a rare event, it is possible that this will result in a delayed diagnosis of adrenal cortical cancer, a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of an adrenal lesion of less than 1 cm developing into adrenal cortical cancer.

Learning points

• Adrenal incidentalomas are increasingly common.

• Clinical practice guidelines exist to aid in differentiating benign and malignant lesions and assessing functional status.

• Transformation of adrenal incidentalomas to adrenal cortical carcinomas is a rare but recognised event.

Summary

Gonadotroph adenomas are the most common type of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. However, functioning gonadotroph adenomas causing clinical manifestations are rare. We present the case of a 42-year-old man with an incidental finding of a pituitary gland mass. A pituitary MRI revealed a 3 cm macroadenoma, and laboratory investigations revealed elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and total testosterone levels. A diagnosis of functioning FSH-secreting pituitary adenoma was considered, with possible concomitant luteinizing hormone secretion, given the elevated testosterone, prompting further evaluation. Testicular ultrasound showed bilaterally enlarged testicles, and visual field testing revealed a monocular superior temporal defect. Transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma was the treatment of choice. Histopathology assessment confirmed the diagnosis of gonadotroph-secreting adenoma, with positive staining for FSH. Within the 12-week postoperative period, FSH and testosterone levels normalized, and the patient experienced significant improvement in vision, along with the resolution of macroorchidism. While functional gonadotroph adenomas are rare, patients can present with a wide range of symptoms that are often unnoticeable due to their slow development. Careful evaluation can help guide multidisciplinary management to achieve full remission.

Learning points

• Endocrine evaluation is indicated in all cases of pituitary incidentalomas to determine functional status.

• Clinically functioning gonadotroph adenomas, while rare, pose a diagnostic challenge and require careful clinical evaluation.

• Transsphenoidal surgery is the mainstay of treatment of functioning gonadotroph adenomas, with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team to achieve desirable outcomes.

Summary

A 69-year-old woman presented with weight loss, fever, dizziness, exertional dyspnea, and drenching night sweats. Imaging showed a thyroid goiter at the left lobe that measured 5.6 × 3.4 × 3.5 cm in size. On computed tomography, she was found to have large adrenal masses. Core needle biopsy of the left thyroid mass revealed the presence of a mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) typically develop in lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissues. There have been cases where the thyroid has been affected, and the secondary involvement of the adrenal gland is common. In reported cases, 7–59% of patients with NHL exhibited symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Our patient presented no symptoms of thyroid dysfunction or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The patient had bilateral adrenal lymphomas that led to adrenal insufficiency. Immunochemotherapy provided a good response in this case, as seen by the rapid improvement in thyroid and adrenal mass on follow-up PET/CT.

Learning points

• Thyroid lymphoma requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis in patients with a rapidly growing thyroid tumor, even in the absence of chronic inflammatory thyroid disease.

• Depending on the extent of involvement, adrenal lymphoma may rapidly cause adrenal insufficiency.

• In the setting of acute illness, appropriate levels of plasma cortisol are often unclear, necessitating early initiation of glucocorticoid therapy based on clinical suspicion, especially when features like bilateral adrenal masses and elevated ACTH levels are present.

• Treatment modalities include chemotherapy and radiation therapy for localized lesions, together with hormone replacement for organ dysfunction.

• The origin of the tumor influences the clinical outcome of patients with lymphoma simultaneously involving the thyroid and adrenal glands.

Summary

Pheochromocytomas are rare adrenal tumors characterized by excessive catecholamine secretion. Symptoms and signs associated with pheochromocytomas are usually intermittent and chronic but can rarely develop into life-threatening crises. We describe a case of acute severe congestive heart failure in a previously healthy female, who recovered rapidly (4 days after admission) with acute medical therapy. The etiology on evaluation was a spontaneous bleed in a previously undiagnosed pheochromocytoma, resulting in a pheochromocytoma crisis and transient stress cardiomyopathy, followed by quick recovery of cardiac function. Our aim is to describe pheochromocytoma as a rare cause of stress cardiomyopathy. We discuss the evaluation of pheochromocytoma during critical illness and triggers/treatment strategies for pheochromocytoma crises.

Learning points

• Hemorrhage in a pheochromocytoma can result in a pheochromocytoma crisis, with sudden release of excess catecholamines resulting in multisystem organ dysfunction and high mortality.

• Acute decompensated heart failure can be a rare presentation of pheochromocytoma, in a patient with no cardiac risk factors.

• Measurement of metanephrines in acutely stressful clinical situations can have considerable overlap with the biochemical picture of pheochromocytoma. Early imaging studies may help with the differential diagnosis.

• Pheochromocytoma should be ruled out before performing an adrenal biopsy.

• Emergent adrenalectomy in pheochromocytoma crisis results in high mortality. Medical management of the acute crisis followed by elective adrenalectomy after alpha-blockade results in better outcomes.

Summary

Symptoms of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) are commonly nonspecific, causing the disease to be misdiagnosed or often delayed, and patients may present to the hospital with a life-threatening crisis. Previous case reports have documented that patients in this condition often require lifelong glucocorticoid replacement therapy. This study aimed to present a noteworthy outcome of PAI caused by adrenal tuberculosis infection, demonstrating complete recovery after six months of glucocorticoid replacement therapy. A 38-year-old Indonesian man presented to the endocrinology clinic in a tertiary hospital with a chief complaint of epigastric pain. The patient experienced nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, weight loss, excessive sweat, decreased appetite, weakness, and dizziness in the past 2 weeks. Laboratory examinations revealed hyponatremia, elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone, and suppressed morning plasma cortisol level. A non-contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI showed unilateral right-side adrenal enlargement and calcification. The patient’s Mantoux test was positive. Corticosteroids and anti-tuberculosis therapy were administered. After 6 months, hydrocortisone was discontinued due to the patient’s good clinical condition and normal morning plasma cortisol levels. After a 1-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with normal cortisol levels. We hypothesized several reasons for this unique outcome: (i) the patient was relatively young compared to previous cases, suggesting an adequate immune system may play a role; (ii) despite a 1-month delay in diagnosis and treatment, the absence of skin hyperpigmentation suggested an acute presentation, potentially contributing to the favorable outcome; and (iii) the absence of comorbidities potentially positively impacted the patient's outcome.

Learning points

• Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are often nonspecific and may only become apparent once significant damage has occurred to the adrenal gland.

• Clinical adjustments and a comprehensive understanding of epidemiological knowledge are necessary for diagnosing patients with endocrine diseases in limited-resource settings.

• Complete recovery in primary adrenal insufficiency caused by tuberculosis infection might be due to younger age, acute presentation, and absence of comorbidities