title: Adrenal carcinoma presenting with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.
abstract: A 63-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of vaginal bleeding. Pelvic examination and ultrasound revealed bilateral atrophy of the ovaries and a uterus of 8.8 x 3.3 x 4.0 cm. Serum estradiol (E2) was 300 pg/mL. Cushing syndrome was diagnosed biochemically, and computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a 5-cm left adrenal mass and tumors in the liver and lung. A pathologic diagnosis of metastatic adrenal carcinoma was made after surgery. This case demonstrates that adrenal carcinoma can produce high E2 levels in a postmenopausal woman, leading to uterine enlargement and vaginal bleeding. Adrenal carcinoma should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harlem Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol