Hypoglycemia associated with the production of insulin-like growth factor II in adrenocortical carcinoma

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman was hospitalized for congestive heart failure and repeated hypoglycemic attacks. The laboratory data showed a serum insulin level within the normal range and an increased level of serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II. Abdominal ultrasonogram and computed tomography scan reveaeled a huge mass lying above the left kidney. She was diagnosed as having an adrenocortical carcinoma. After the removal of the tumor, the plasma glucose level and the serum level of IGF-II were normalized. The tumor cells stained positively for IGF-II immunohistochemically. These findings suggested that the hypoglycemia was due to IGF-II produced by the adrenocortical carcinoma.