title: Subclinical Cushing's syndrome associated with an adrenocortical oncocytoma.
abstract: Oncocytoma is a neoplasm that can arise in several organs, and it has been more commonly described in the kidney, salivary gland and thyroid. Oncocytoma arising in the adrenal gland is a rare finding. Moreover, functioning adrenocortical oncocytoma is exceptionally rare. A 47-yr-old man was incidentally discovered to have a right adrenal mass. The patient had no clinical features suggestive of increased adrenal function. However, hormonal evaluation showed a disturbed cortisol circadian rhythm, supranormal urinary cortisol excretion, a low level of ACTH, and a lack of suppressibility of cortisol secretion after dexamethasone. Right adrenalectomy was performed, and this revealed a well-circumscribed dark-brown tumor that measured 2.4x2.2 cm. The tumor consisted almost exclusively of large eosinophilic and epitheloid cells whose cytoplasm was packed with eosinophilic granulations, which corresponded to the numerous mitochondria confirmed on electron microscopy. This is a rare case of subclinical Cushing's syndrome that was caused by adrenocortical oncocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016708:Synaptophysin; C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins; D007633:Keratins; D003907:Dexamethasone
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