Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour arising from the adrenal cortex, with an estimated annual incidence of one to two patients per million. Ectopic ACCs are extremely rare. The majority of ACCs are sporadic; however, ACC has been linked with genetic disease processes, including...

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Main Authors: Deirdre Green, Kate Richards, Brendan Doyle, Chris Thompson, Arnold Hill, Michael W O’Reilly, Mark Sherlock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bioscientifica 2024-11-01
Series:Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports
Online Access:https://edm.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/edm/2024/4/EDM23-0068.xml
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author Deirdre Green
Kate Richards
Brendan Doyle
Chris Thompson
Arnold Hill
Michael W O’Reilly
Mark Sherlock
author_facet Deirdre Green
Kate Richards
Brendan Doyle
Chris Thompson
Arnold Hill
Michael W O’Reilly
Mark Sherlock
author_sort Deirdre Green
collection DOAJ
description Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour arising from the adrenal cortex, with an estimated annual incidence of one to two patients per million. Ectopic ACCs are extremely rare. The majority of ACCs are sporadic; however, ACC has been linked with genetic disease processes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 (MEN-1). We present the case of a 66-year-old lady referred with newly diagnosed diabetes on a background of primary hyperparathyroidism. Examination revealed Cushingoid features, and hormonal evaluation confirmed ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome. Morning cortisol after a 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test was 548 nmol/L with an undetectable ACTH <3.0 pg/mL. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was 5.3 μmol/L and androstenedione 3.49 nmol/L, both of which were normal. Testosterone was suppressed at <0.4 nmol/L. Imaging revealed a 6 × 6 × 4.5 cm right-sided presumed adrenal lesion, a pancreatic lesion (2.5 × 1.6 cm), and bilateral pulmonary nodules (0.9 × 0.8 cm, 0.7 × 0.6 cm, 0.3 cm). Right adrenalectomy was performed, and histology was consistent with an extra-adrenal ACC (Weiss score 5/9) within the peri-adrenal adipose tissue. The resected adrenal gland was normal. Lung biopsy confirmed metastatic ACC tissue, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreatic lesion revealed a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour, which was confirmed biochemically to be an insulinoma. Genetic assessment confirmed MEN-1. This case highlights the importance of screening for MEN-1 in at-risk patients and the need for close clinical follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of extra-adrenal ACC in MEN-1 syndrome.
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spelling doaj-art-1772afb154a3463e9a8f91c46f7280ab2025-08-20T02:07:23ZengBioscientificaEndocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports2052-05732024-11-011115https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-23-0068Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1Deirdre Green0Kate Richards1Brendan Doyle2Chris Thompson3Arnold Hill4Michael W O’Reilly5Mark Sherlock6Department of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Academic Department of Endocrinology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Histopathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Histopathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Academic Department of Endocrinology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Academic Department of Endocrinology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Academic Department of Endocrinology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IrelandAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour arising from the adrenal cortex, with an estimated annual incidence of one to two patients per million. Ectopic ACCs are extremely rare. The majority of ACCs are sporadic; however, ACC has been linked with genetic disease processes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 (MEN-1). We present the case of a 66-year-old lady referred with newly diagnosed diabetes on a background of primary hyperparathyroidism. Examination revealed Cushingoid features, and hormonal evaluation confirmed ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome. Morning cortisol after a 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test was 548 nmol/L with an undetectable ACTH <3.0 pg/mL. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was 5.3 μmol/L and androstenedione 3.49 nmol/L, both of which were normal. Testosterone was suppressed at <0.4 nmol/L. Imaging revealed a 6 × 6 × 4.5 cm right-sided presumed adrenal lesion, a pancreatic lesion (2.5 × 1.6 cm), and bilateral pulmonary nodules (0.9 × 0.8 cm, 0.7 × 0.6 cm, 0.3 cm). Right adrenalectomy was performed, and histology was consistent with an extra-adrenal ACC (Weiss score 5/9) within the peri-adrenal adipose tissue. The resected adrenal gland was normal. Lung biopsy confirmed metastatic ACC tissue, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreatic lesion revealed a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour, which was confirmed biochemically to be an insulinoma. Genetic assessment confirmed MEN-1. This case highlights the importance of screening for MEN-1 in at-risk patients and the need for close clinical follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of extra-adrenal ACC in MEN-1 syndrome.https://edm.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/edm/2024/4/EDM23-0068.xml
spellingShingle Deirdre Green
Kate Richards
Brendan Doyle
Chris Thompson
Arnold Hill
Michael W O’Reilly
Mark Sherlock
Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports
title Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
title_full Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
title_fullStr Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
title_full_unstemmed Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
title_short Extra-adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
title_sort extra adrenal adrenocortical cancer associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
url https://edm.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/edm/2024/4/EDM23-0068.xml
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