Diagnosis and Treatment > Medication
Search for other papers by Wei Yang in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by David Pham in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Aren T Vierra in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Sarah Azam in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Dorina Gui in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by John C Yoon in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Ectopic ACTH-secreting pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors are rare and account for less than 5% of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome cases. We describe an unusual case of metastatic bronchial carcinoid tumor in a young woman presenting with unprovoked pulmonary emboli, which initially prevented the detection of the primary tumor on imaging. The source of ectopic ACTH was ultimately localized by a Gallium-DOTATATE scan, which demonstrated increased tracer uptake in a right middle lobe lung nodule and multiple liver nodules. The histological diagnosis was established based on a core biopsy of a hepatic lesion and the patient was started on a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist and a somatostatin analog. This case illustrates that hypercogulability can further aggravate the diagnostic challenges in ectopic ACTH syndrome. We discuss the literature on the current diagnosis and management strategies for ectopic ACTH syndrome.
Learning points:
-
In a young patient with concurrent hypokalemia and uncontrolled hypertension on multiple antihypertensive agents, secondary causes of hypertension should be evaluated.
-
Patients with Cushing’s syndrome can develop an acquired hypercoagulable state leading to spontaneous and postoperative venous thromboembolism.
-
Pulmonary emboli may complicate the imaging of the bronchial carcinoid tumor in ectopic ACTH syndrome.
-
Imaging with Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scan has the highest sensitivity and specificity in detecting ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors.
-
A combination of various noninvasive biochemical tests can enhance the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating Cushing’s disease from ectopic ACTH syndrome provided they have concordant results. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling remains the gold standard.
Search for other papers by Omayma Elshafie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Yahya Al Badaai in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Khalifa Alwahaibi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Asim Qureshi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Samir Hussein in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Faisal Al Azzri in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ali Almamari in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Nicholas Woodhouse in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
A 48-year-old hypertensive and diabetic patient presented with a 10-year history of progressive right facial pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, sweating, and palpitations. Investigations revealed a 5.6 cm vascular tumor at the carotid bifurcation. Her blood pressure (BP) was 170/110, on lisinopril 20 mg od and amlodipine 10 mg od and 100 U of insulin daily. A catecholamine-secreting carotid body paraganglioma (CSCBP) was suspected; the diagnosis was confirmed biochemically by determining plasma norepinephrine (NE) level, 89 000 pmol/l, and chromogranin A (CgA) level, 279 μg/l. Meta-iodobenzylguanidine and octreotide scanning confirmed a single tumor in the neck. A week after giving the patient a trial of octreotide 100 μg 8 h, the NE level dropped progressively from 50 000 to 25 000 pmol/l and CgA from 279 to 25 μg/l. Treatment was therefore continued with labetalol 200 mg twice daily (bid) and long-acting octreotide-LA initially using 40 mg/month and later increasing to 80 mg/month. On this dose and with a reduced labetalol intake of 100 mg bid, BP was maintained at 130/70 and her symptoms resolved completely. CgA levels returned to normal in the first week and these were maintained throughout the 3 month treatment period. During tumor resection, there were minimal BP fluctuations during the 10 h procedure. We conclude that short-term high-dose octreotide-LA might prove valuable in the preoperative management of catecholamine-secreting tumors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the successful use of octreotide in a CSCBP.
Learning points
-
The value of octreotide scanning in the localization of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma.
-
Control of catecholamine secretion using high-dose octreotide.
-
This is a report of a rare cause of secondary diabetes and hypertension.
