title: Bilateral adrenal lymphoma with Addison's disease : a surgical pitfall.
abstract: A 65 year old man presenting with abdominal and back pain was found to have bilateral adrenal masses. Phaeochromocytomas were initially suspected on the basis of increased catecholamine excretion. This diagnosis seemed unlikely in view of clinical findings and a negative 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy. A biopsy of the right adrenal mass revealed a diagnosis of primary adrenal B-cell lymphoma. Hyponatraemia and subtle clinical signs of adrenal insufficiency led to a diagnosis of Addison's disease, a common complication of primary adrenal lymphoma. Thus, bilateral adrenal masses associated with Addison's disease should raise the suspicion of possible primary adrenal lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Mont-Godinne, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium. julian.donckier@mint.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Donckier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacrosse
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone