Lymphoma presenting with adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal enlargement on computed tomographic scanning as a clue to diagnosis

Abstract

A 73-year-old woman who presented with primary adrenal insufficiency and enlarged adrenal glands on computed tomographic scanning was ultimately found to have a large-cell lymphoma that had initially involved the adrenals and the stomach. A search of the English language medical literature revealed only seven other cases of lymphoma presenting with hypoadrenalism, none of which involved the stomach. As in this case, in most of those cases adrenal enlargement was documented on computed tomographic scanning. Despite its rare occurrence, lymphoma should be searched for in patients presenting with Addison's disease and enlarged adrenal glands.