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Metastases to the adrenal glands and the development of Addison's disease
Author(s) -
Seidenwurm David J.,
Elmer Edward B.,
Kaplan Lee M.,
Williams Ellen K.,
Morris Deborah G.,
Hoffman Andrew R.
Publication year - 1984
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(19840801)54:3<552::aid-cncr2820540328>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , adrenal insufficiency , addison's disease , disease , adrenal crisis , radiology , pathology
Metastases to the adrenal glands are common in patients with cancer but symptomatic Addison's disease is rarely noted in this population. The development of body computerized tomography (CT) allows the diagnosis of adrenal metastases to be made more readily antemortem. From 1980 to 1981, 19% (4/21) of patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital who had metastatic cancer and who were noted to have enlarged adrenal glands on CT also had or developed symptomatic adrenal insufficiency. The case histories of 8 patients with Addison's disease and one patient with adrenal hemorrhage on the basis of metastatic infiltration are reviewed. Since adrenal insufficiency may develop abruptly in this group of patients, it is suggested that prophylactic maintenance glucocorticoid therapy be initiated as soon as the diagnosis of adrenal metastases is made.

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