Open Access

RESIDENT’S CORNER

Adrenal insufficiency as presenting feature of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Bruce L. Jacobs¹, Todd M. Blodgett², Sara E. Monaco³, Ronald L. Hrebinko Jr¹, Samuel A. Jacobs⁴

1 Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
2 Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
4 Department of Hematology Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Bruce L. Jacobs, Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA15213-3232 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2010, 17(5), 5411-5414.

Abstract

Lymphomatous involvement of an adrenal gland during the course of a lymphoma is common, but a primary presentation of adrenal insufficiency in a patient with lymphoma involving both adrenal glands is rare. We describe a 36-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who presented with adrenal insufficiency. His evaluation consisted of several imaging modalities, including positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans, which were helpful in defining the extent of disease prior to treatment and in monitoring the patient’s response to treatment. Our case illustrates the importance of preoperative evaluation to exclude a lymphoma, particularly in patients with bilateral renal and/or adrenal masses.

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Keywords

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