HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia: a clinicopathologic correlation.

AbstractOBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and pathologic characteristics of patients with corticotropin (ACTH)-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.
DESIGN:
Retrospective review.
SETTING:
Academic medical center.
PATIENTS:
All patients with bilateral adrenocortical nodules associated with ACTH-independent hypercortisolism without clinicopathologic features of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease with atrophic internodular adrenal cortex.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Compare and contrast our findings with those previously reported; assess response to adrenalectomy.
RESULTS:
Nine patients met the criteria for corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. All patients had biochemical evidence of Cushing syndrome, although repetitive testing was frequently required. As a result, the diagnosis was delayed from 1 to 20 years. In all patients, both the low- and high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests failed to suppress cortisol secretion. No patient had elevated ACTH levels, and following curative bilateral adrenalectomy, no patient subsequently developed Nelson syndrome, with follow-up ranging from 1 to 8.5 years. Unique histologic features were identified in all cases.
CONCLUSION:
Amalgamating this series with other clinical reports plus basic research information, corticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia must be considered a separate and legitimate cause of Cushing syndrome.
AuthorsJ M Swain, C S Grant, R T Schlinkert, G B Thompson, J A vanHeerden, R V Lloyd, W F Young
JournalArchives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (Arch Surg) Vol. 133 Issue 5 Pg. 541-5; discussion 545-6 (May 1998) ISSN: 0004-0010 [Print] United States
PMID9605918 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Topics
  • Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital (complications, diagnosis, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
  • Adrenalectomy (methods)
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (blood, urine)
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cushing Syndrome (etiology, metabolism)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: