Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pheochromocytoma has been rarely reported, whereas only a few cases of Cushing syndrome accompanied by opportunistic infections have been reported. We experienced a patient with pheochromocytoma with ectopic Cushing syndrome complicated by invasive aspergillosis. A 35-year-old woman presented with typical Cushingoid features. Her basal plasma cortisol, ACTH, and 24-hour urine free cortisol levels were significantly high, and 24-hour urine metanephrine and catecholamine levels were slightly elevated. The endogeneous cortisol secretion was not suppressed by either low- or high-dose dexamethasone. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass measuring approximately 2.5 cm in size in the left adrenal gland. No definitive mass lesion was observed on sellar magnetic resonance imaging. On fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT, a hypermetabolic nodule was observed in the left upper lung. Thus, we performed a percutaneous needle biopsy, which revealed inflammation, not malignancy. Thereafter, we performed a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, and its pathologic finding was a pheochromocytoma with positive immunohistostaining for ACTH. After surgery, the biochemistry was normalized, but the clinical course was fatal despite intensive care because of the invasive aspergillosis that included the lungs, retina, and central nervous system.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Ectopic ACTH- and/or CRH-Producing Pheochromocytomas Patrick F Elliott, Thomas Berhane, Oskar Ragnarsson, Henrik Falhammar The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.2021; 106(2): 598. CrossRef
Ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone syndrome (EAS) with phaeochromocytoma: a challenging endocrine case with a happy ending Sharifah Faradila Wan Muhamad Hatta, Leoni Lekkakou, Ananth Viswananth, Harit Buch BMJ Case Reports.2019; 12(8): e230636. CrossRef
Severe Cushing Syndrome Due to an ACTH-Producing Pheochromocytoma: A Case Presentation and Review of the Literature Jenan N Gabi, Maali M Milhem, Yara E Tovar, Emhemmid S Karem, Alaa Y Gabi, Rodhan A Khthir Journal of the Endocrine Society.2018; 2(7): 621. CrossRef