Primary Aldosteronism with Cortisol Overproduction from Bilateral Multiple Adrenal Adenomas

Akihiro NAGAE; Eiki MURAKAMI; Kunio HIWADA; Osamu KUBOTA; Yasuharu TAKADA; Takaaki OHMORI

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine1962.30.26

Akihiro NAGAE, Eiki MURAKAMI, Kunio HIWADA, Osamu KUBOTA, Yasuharu TAKADA, Takaaki OHMORI

Author information

Keywords: Aldosterone, Cushing's syndrome

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1991 Volume 30 Issue 1 Pages 26-31

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine1962.30.26

Details

Abstract

A 55-year-old woman with bilateral multiple adenomas showed hypertension, muscle weakness, hypokalemia, moon-like face and truncal obesity. Increased serum and urinary levels of aldosterone were observed. Serum cortisol level did not show a normal circadian rhythm. Microscopic examination of the resected tumors showed two types of adenoma cells; one (golden yellow tumor) was a large clear cell with foamy cytoplasm which possibly secreted aldosterone and the other (dark brown tumor) was an acidophilic cell with lipofuscin which might have produced cortisol. This is a very rare case of primary aldosteronism with Cushing's syndrome due to multiple bilateral adrenal adenomas.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!