Ventricular fibrillation as the presenting manifestation of adrenocortical carcinoma.
We describe a case of a young adult in whom sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation was the presenting manifestation of an adrenocortical carcinoma. The arrhythmia was precipitated by severe hypokalemia induced by the aldosterone-secreting tumor. Sudden death has not been previously described as a manifestation of this adrenal neoplasm. Unexplained persistent hypokalemia after resuscitated sudden death (especially when combined with hypertension( should prompt investigation for an underlying secondary hypertension, particularly adrenal pathology. Adrenocortical carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained sudden death associated with unexplained hypokalemia.
Shimony
Avi
A
Department of Cardiology, Intensive Cardiac Care Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. ashimony@bgu.ac.il
Bereza
Sergiy
S
Shalev
Aryeh
A
Gilutz
Harel
H
Ilia
Reuben
R
Zahger
Doron
D
D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*