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Case Reports
. 2016 Apr 18:10:634.
doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2016.634. eCollection 2016.

Acute adrenal insufficiency secondary to bilateral adrenal B-cell lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature

Carlos De Miguel Sánchez  1 , Luis Ruiz  2 , Jose Luis González  3 , Jose Luis Hernández  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute adrenal insufficiency secondary to bilateral adrenal B-cell lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature

Carlos De Miguel Sánchez et al. Ecancermedicalscience. .

Abstract

Primary adrenal lymphoma is an extremely rare entity which constitutes less than 1% of extranodal lymphomas. Most cases present with bilateral adrenal masses and without extraadrenal involvement, which can lead to symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. The prognosis is usually poor and chemotherapy is the first-line treatment option. We report here on a 78-year-old man admitted to our Internal Medicine Department because of constitutional symptoms and high fever spikes. He was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and a CT-scan revealed bilateral adrenal masses of about 6 cm in diameter. A percutaneous biopsy was performed and the histological exam was consistent with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. A review of the literature of this unusual entity was also carried out.

Keywords: adrenal insufficiency; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; primary adrenal lymphoma.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. CT-scan showing a bilateral heterogeneous mass of about 6 cm in diameter in both adrenal glands.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. CT-scan at the end of chemotherapy treatment showing complete response.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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