Bilateral adrenal myelolipoma in Cushing's disease: a relook into the role of corticotropin in adrenal tumourigenesis.
Adrenal myelolipomas are infrequently encountered benign tumours of unknown aetiology. In the majority of cases they are unilateral, and clinically and hormonally silent, only requiring periodic follow-up. However, bilateral adrenal myelolipomas are sometimes associated with endocrine disorders and warrant appropriate evaluation. Though the understanding of the pathophysiology of adrenal myelolipomas has long been elusive, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has been proposed as the main tropic factor in a number of studies. Cushing's disease is rarely associated with bilateral and sometimes giant myelolipomas. In this article, the association of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas with Cushing's disease has been discussed and the role of ACTH in the tumourigenesis has been reviewed.
Department of Medicine, Midnapore Medical College & Hospital, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
Partha Pratim
PP
Chakraborty
Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, IPGME&R/SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Rana
R
Bhattacharjee
Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, IPGME&R/SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Pradip
P
Mukhopadhyay
Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, IPGME&R/SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Subhankar
S
Chowdhury
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018209:Myelolipoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D047748:Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone