title: Successful treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency due to malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Although the adrenal glands are frequently the site of tumor metastases, adrenal insufficiency is exceedingly rare. We report on a patient with high-grade B-cell centroblastic lymphoma who initially presented with right axillary lymphadenopathy and bilateral adrenal masses. Four months after axillary lymphadenectomy the patient developed overt signs of Addison's disease. He recovered promptly after initiation of hormone replacement therapy and bilateral adrenalectomy. At present, 16 months after additional chemo- and radiation therapy the patient is considered free of tumor. To our knowledge this is the first report on a patient who presented with adrenal insufficiency in the course of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and who was successfully treated. Demonstrating this case, we would also like to stress that the development of adrenal insufficiency does not necessarily indicate widespread tumor manifestation in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Karl-Franzens Universität Graz.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dobnig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silly
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ohlinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leb
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Krejs
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones