Adrenal cortical adenoma with excess black pigment deposition, combined with myelolipoma and clinical Cushing's syndrome

Abstract

We report a case of a functional adenoma with excess black pigment deposition and myelolipoma in the same adrenal gland in a 58-year-old woman. The patient presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, and after being diagnosed with colonic diverticulosis, underwent a total colectomy. An abdominal computerized tomographic (CT) scan during her work-up showed a right adrenal mass consistent with myelolipoma. Postoperatively, the patient was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome and underwent a right adrenalectomy. The adrenalectomy specimen consisted of a dark brown and golden-yellow adrenal adenoma, myelolipoma, and atrophic adrenal gland. Immunostains indicated that the dark brown adenoma component was responsible for the patient's hypercortisolism. Co-occurrence of a functional black adenoma and a well-developed myelolipoma has not been reported in the literature. We describe the significant findings of this case, together with a review of the literature.