Primary adrenal angiosarcoma and functioning adrenocortical adenoma: an exceptional combined tumor

Abstract

ContextPrimary adrenal angiosarcoma is an extremely rare neoplasm, as are combined tumors within a given adrenal lesion.Clinical presentation and interventionA 35-year-old man presented with hypokalemic hypertension leading to the discovery of a 6 cm diameter malignant-appearing right adrenal tumor. The lesion displayed marked 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography scanning. Endocrine investigations revealed secretion of both cortisol and aldosterone by the neoplasm. The entire right adrenal gland along with the periadrenal fat tissue was removed during laparoscopic surgery.ResultsHistological examination revealed two intermingled tumor cell proliferations, namely an angiosarcoma and an adrenocortical adenoma. An extensive post-operative search revealed no other primary tumor site, nor metastases. The lesion was then considered to be a primary adrenal angiosarcoma combined with a secreting adrenocortical adenoma. The patient received four cycles of chemotherapy (adriamycin/ifosfamide). At 2-year follow-up, he is alive and well, with no sign of relapse.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of an adrenal neoplasm combining a primary angiosarcoma and a functioning adrenocortical adenoma.