Adrenal Insufficiency due to Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Published in: ENDOCRINE JOURNAL Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 591 - 596
• Main Authors: TAKAMURA, TOSHINARI, NAGAI, YUKIHIRO, YAMASHITA, HARUHISA, NOHARA, ERIKA, ANDO, HITOSHI, KAGAYA, MAKIKO, URABE, TAKESHI, KANEKO, SHUICHI, KOBAYASHI, KEN-ICHI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japan Endocrine Society 1999
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - secondary; Adrenal insufficiency; Adrenal Insufficiency - blood; Adrenal Insufficiency - etiology; Aged; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - complications; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - secondary; Fatal Outcome; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - complications; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Metastatic adrenal tumor; Neoplasm Proteins - blood
• ISSN: 0918-8959; 1348-4540
• DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.46.591

A 73-year-old man with general malaise and nausea following a common cold diagnosed by a local physician was found to have multiple hepatocellular carcinomas with enlarged bilateral adrenal glands, combined with adrenal insufficiency. Hydrocortisone replacement improved the symptoms and laboratory findings. Autopsy findings revealed that each adrenal gland was completely replaced by the tumor measuring 11cm in diameter, and no adrenal tissue was recognized. Histologically, the adrenal tumors, as well as the liver tumors, were moderately differentiated Edmondson type II hepatocellular carcinomas. This is a second report of adrenal insufficiency due to hepatocellular carcinoma as a primary site of metastatic adrenal tumor.