Rapidly growing adrenal gland tumor in a female patient with a history of colon cancer

Abstract

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignant disease, occurring in 0.5-2 per 1,000,000 cases annually. Clinical signs may arise due to autonomous hormonal hypersecretion by the tumor, but also due to local compressive symptoms in the abdomen. The success of treatment depends on early diagnosis, with the recommended treatment being definitive adrenalectomy. An essential strategy in the further treatment of such complex malignancies is chemotherapy with mitotane. Thanks to advancements in medical sciences and comprehensive research, there will be an improved approach in the detection and treatment of adrenocortical carcinomas. We presented a female patient who, during follow-up for operated colon adenocarcinoma, was incidentally found on CT to have a lesion in the right adrenal gland. Due to its size and results consistent with subclinical Cushing's syndrome, the lesion was operated on, and histopathological findings indicated adrenocortical carcinoma. Given the confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma, therapy with mitotane was initiated.