Adrenal insufficiency as presenting feature of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Lymphomatous involvement of an adrenal gland during the course of a lymphoma is common, but a primary presentation of adrenal insufficiency in a patient with lymphoma involving both adrenal glands is rare. We describe a 36-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who presented with adrenal insufficiency. His evaluation consisted of several imaging modalities, including positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans, which were helpful in defining the extent of disease prior to treatment and in monitoring the patient's response to treatment. Our case illustrates the importance of preoperative evaluation to exclude a lymphoma, particularly in patients with bilateral renal and/or adrenal masses.