Metastatic adenocarcinoma within a functioning adrenal adenoma: A case report

Abstract

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman who underwent right adrenalectomy for palliation of Cushing's symptoms. She had recently been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Pathologic findings revealed a 5 cm adrenal adenoma with a metastatic adenocarcinoma deposit. The occurrence of tumor-to-tumor metastasis is rare, and the finding of a metastasis within a functional adrenal adenoma exceptionally so. Previously reported incidences of this finding in patients with lung cancer range from 0.14% to 0.63%. We review the literature regarding this unusual finding. © 2009 Martin et al; licensee Cases Network Ltd.