Prolonged treatment with the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone is well-established in the syndrome of hypertension with aldosterone excess and low plasma renin ("primary" hyperaldosteronism) and is usually effective in lowering the blood pressure and correcting the electrolyte abnormalities in cases with adrenocortical adenoma or micronodular hyperplasia (Brown et al., 1965, 1969, 1971b, 19...

Electron microscopy of an amphophil pituitary adenoma surgically removed from a 51-year-old woman who had Nelson's syndrome revealed that the tumor was composed of melanocorticotroph cells. This finding is consistent with the view that in the human pituitary gland one single cell type produces both adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). In contrast to the u...

Pheochromocytomas are a rare cause of arterial hypertension, necessitating surgical resection. Coexistence of a pheochromocytoma with an ipsilateral adenoma in the right adrenal gland has sporadically been reported. No reports on their videoscopic resection by the posterior retroperitoneal approach are available. We describe a case of a 49-year old female patient with a pheochromocytoma of the ...

Introduction The differential diagnosis of the various forms of Cushing's syndrome rests mainly on the response of the adrenal glands to stimulation and suppression. Usually Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal hyperplasia is suppressed by dexamethasone in sufficient doses and stimulated by ACTH and metapyrone. Tumours either benign or malignant are usually non-responsive to stimulation or suppres...

We present a 39-year old female with a benign adrenal tumor characterized by autonomous secretion of cortisol, androgens, and aldosterone. The patient presented with a 4-year history of hypertension and severe hirsutism. Baseline investigations revealed elevated testosterone, androstendione, and 17OH progesterone with normal levels of dehydroepi androsterone sulfate. CT of the adrenals revealed...

Primary aldosteronism is a potentially curable cause of hypertension, especially when caused by an adrenal adenoma. Aldosteronomas because of their small size often elude techniques to locate them. This case illustrates the advantages, disadvantages and complications of noninvasive techniques used for their diagnosis. A patient with hypertension and hypokalemia underwent an adrenal venous efflu...

We present an intriguing case of adrenal myelolipomata occurring within an adrenocortical adenoma in concert with an ipsilateral clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A 50-year-old female presented with dull right flank pain and hematuria. Computed tomography indicated a 2.5 cm right renal mass as well as a 5 cm right adrenal mass. Both masses were surgically resected concurrently. Histology of the ...