Premium
Virilizing adrenal cortical carcinoma
Author(s) -
Nogeire C.,
Fukushima D. K.,
Hellman L.,
Boyar R. M.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197707)40:1<307::aid-cncr2820400143>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , virilization , congenital adrenal hyperplasia , testosterone (patch) , endocrine system , adrenocortical carcinoma , hormone , carcinoma , androgen , hydrocortisone
A 43‐year‐old man with a 36‐year history of virilization due to an adrenal carcinoma is presented. The initial presentation at age 7 with precocious puberty and epiphyseal bone fusion suggested increased androgen effect at a very early age. The patient's 36‐year course before his death suggested either a very slow growing adrenal carcinoma or untreated congenital adrenal hyperplasia that progressed to an adrenal carcinoma. Endocrine evaluation showed markedly increased DHEA and DHEA‐sulfate levels. These were associated with elevated plasma and urinary estradiol levels and suppressed LH and FSH plasma concentrations. The 24‐hour mean levels of cortisol and testosterone were normal. Studies of the circadian periodicity of cortisol showed a disturbed temporal pattern but a normal 24‐hour mean concentration that correlated with a normal cortisol production rate. The 24‐hour LH secretory pattern showed a decrease in the normal episodic fluctuation of this hormone over the 24‐hour period. Cancer 40:307–313, 1977.