BACKGROUND: Data on giant pheochromocytomas (PHEO), defined based on size ≥ 10 cm, are scarce.
OBJECTIVE: to compare presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with giant vs non-giant PHEOs.
METHODS: retrospective cohort study, 2000-2023.
METHODS: referral center.
METHODS: consecutive patients with giant PHEO and randomly chosen patients with non-giant PHEO (referents) at a 1:6 ratio.
RESULTS: perioperative complications, metastases, mortality.
RESULTS: Of 828 patients with PHEO, 31 (3.7%) had giant PHEO (median size 12 cm, IQR 10.0-13.5). In comparison to referents (n=186, median size 4 cm, IQR, 2.9-5.0), patients with giant PHEO had more symptoms of catecholamine excess (median of 2 vs 1, P=.04) and presented with a higher prevalence of severe catecholamine excess (76% vs 30%, P<.0001).Adrenalectomy was performed in 94% of patients with giant PHEOs and 100% referents. In addition to preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade (89%), metyrosine was used in 14 (7%) patients, mostly in patients with giant PHEO (26% vs 3%, P<.0001). Patients with giant PHEO had a higher perioperative complication rate (31% vs 10%, P=.004).During a median follow-up of 3 years, metastases developed at a higher rate in patients with giant PHEOs (45% vs 4% in referents, P<.0001). Disease-specific mortality was 7% in patients with giant PHEOs and 0% in referents (P=.02).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with giant PHEO as compared to referents were more symptomatic, had a higher degree of catecholamine excess, and had a higher rate of perioperative complications. Almost half of patients with giant PHEO developed metastases, warranting a close follow-up.

Adrenal pathologies have variable clinical presentations and primary care providers should be aware of common and serious adrenal disorders. All adrenal masses require evaluation for malignancy, whether primary or metastatic, and all masses require evaluation for inappropriate hormonal secretion. In the event of adrenal insufficiency, the etiology of cortisol inadequacy must be identified and appropriately treated to prevent life-threatening complications.

UNASSIGNED: Objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the most commonly used radiological evaluation in form of contrast enhanced computed tomography of abdomen with adrenal protocol, basic functional evaluation and surgical outcomes of primary adrenal masses.
UNASSIGNED: We have retrospectively analysed the institutional records of 108, patients admitted from August 2017 to September 2023, who had underwent surgical intervention for their adrenal mass after thorough evaluation and stabilization.
UNASSIGNED: Flank pain was the most common symptoms in 44 (40.74%) patients. Non-functional adrenal adenoma was found in 36 (33.33%) patients. Pheochromocytoma was the most the common functional adrenal mass found in 24 (22.22%) patients. CECT abdomen had suggested features of malignancy in 16(14.81%) patients. In final histopathological report 26(24.07%) patients had pheochromocytoma and 12 (11.11%) patients had adrenocortical carcinoma. CECT abdomen had sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 95.6%. Plasma free metanephrines and normetanephrine analysis had shown sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 92.86%, aldosterone to renin ratio had sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 100%. Sensitivity and specificity of the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and plasma dehydroepiandrosterone was 100% in our study. Eighty patients (74.07%) were operated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy, 20 (18.52%) patients with open adrenalectomy. Eight patients (7.41%) were converted from laparoscopic to open. Laparoscopic approach had significantly lesser mean operating time, lesser blood loss, lesser hospitalization and lesser post-operative complications.
UNASSIGNED: Radiological analysis and functional analysis has shown good sensitivity and high specificity. Laparoscopic approach has advantage of lesser operative time, lesser hospitalization and lesser post-operative complications.

This case report describes the surgical management of a giant left adrenal mass (27 x 26 × 27 cm, 9.370 kg) in a 69-year-old female. We review the multidisciplinary decision-making process for pre-operative preparation, embolization, resection feasibility, and strategies to mitigate intra-operative complications. This is the largest adrenal adenoma removal reported to date. The case highlights the importance of meticulous surgical planning and execution in managing rare and challenging cases, with significant implications for patient outcomes.

Pheochromocytoma rarely presents with unexplained hypokalaemia, although there are some case reports in the literature. The mechanism behind this could be the increased cellular potassium uptake promoted by beta-2-adrenoreceptor hyperactivation and insulin resistance. We present the case of a 68-year-old hypertensive female patient with a unilateral adrenal mass discovered on angio-CT and typical signs of adrenergic hyperstimulation (hypertensive crisis, headache, and sweating) associated with multiple arrhythmic episodes but with normal plasma and urinary catecholamine levels. During the work-up for hormonal hypersecretion and the cessation of anti-aldosterone medication, the patient presented resistant hypokalaemia. Due to uncorrectable hypokalaemia, we were unable to perform hormonal investigations for primary hyperaldosteronism and referred the patient for laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The histological diagnosis revealed left pheochromocytoma. Postoperatively, the patient experienced rebound hyperkalaemia. In a patient with a unilateral adrenal mass and hypokalaemia, besides primary hyperaldosteronism and adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent hypercortisolism, a possible pheochromocytoma should be ruled out as well by the clinician before surgery.

BACKGROUND: Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is diagnosed based on post-dexamethasone cortisol>1.8 mcg/dL. Scarce evidence exists on steroid circadian secretion and steroid metabolome in MACS.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize 24-hour (h) urine steroid metabolome in patients with MACS and determine circadian differences in urine steroid profiling and cortisol concentrations in patients with MACS versus referent subjects.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study, 2018-2023.
METHODS: Referral center.
METHODS: Patients with MACS and age-, sex-, BMI-, and menopausal status-matched referent subjects.
METHODS: Urine was collected over 24h period as separate day- and night-time collections. High-resolution mass spectrometry assay was used to measure 25 steroids. A subgroup of patients and referent subjects were admitted for every 2h serum measurements of free and total cortisol.
RESULTS: Steroids, sums, and ratios.
RESULTS: Patients with MACS (n=72) had lower mcg/24h median androgens (2084 vs 3283, P<0.001), higher glucocorticoids (15754 vs 12936, P<0.001), and higher glucocorticoid/androgen ratio (8.7 vs 3.9, P<0.001), compared to referent subjects. Patients also had lower steroid day/night ratios compared to referent subjects, reflecting a higher relative nocturnal steroid production in MACS. In a subgroup of 12 patients with MACS and 10 referent subjects, the 24-hour area under the curves for total and free cortisol were similar. However, evening mean total (5.3 vs 4.0 mcg/dL, P=0.056) and free (0.2 vs 0.1 mcg/dL, P=0.035) cortisol was higher in patients vs referent subjects.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MACS demonstrate an abnormal urine steroid metabolome, with a high glucocorticoid to androgen ratio, and a higher nocturnal steroid production.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess whether clinical and imaging characteristics are associated with the hormonal subtype, growth, and adrenalectomy for incidental adrenal cortical adenomas (ACAs).
METHODS: This is a single-center cohort study.
METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with incidental ACA were diagnosed between 2000 and 2016.
RESULTS: Of the 1516 patients with incidental ACA (median age 59 years, 62% women), 699 (46%) had nonfunctioning adenomas (NFAs), 482 (31%) had mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), 62 (4%) had primary aldosteronism (PA), 39 (3%) had Cushing syndrome, 18 (1%) had PA and MACS, and 226 (15%) had incomplete work-up. Age, sex, tumor size, and tumor laterality, but not unenhanced computed tomography Hounsfield units (HU), were associated with hormonal subtypes. In a multivariable analysis, ≥1 cm growth was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.8 per 5-year increase, P = .0047) and longer imaging follow-up (OR = 1.2 per year, P < .0001). Adrenalectomy was performed in 355 (23%) patients, including 38% of MACS and 15% of NFA. Adrenalectomy for NFA and MACS was more common in younger patients (OR = 0.79 per 5-year increase, P = .002), larger initial tumor size (OR = 2.3 per 1 cm increase, P < .0001), ≥1 cm growth (OR = 15.3, P < .0001), and higher postdexamethasone cortisol (OR = 6.6 for >5 vs <1.8 μg/dL, P = .002).
CONCLUSIONS: Age, sex, tumor size, and laterality were associated with ACA hormonal subtype and can guide diagnosis and management. Tumor growth was more common with younger age and longer follow-up. Unenhanced HU did not predict hormonal subtype or growth. Adrenalectomy for MACS and NFA was mainly performed in younger patients with larger tumor size, growth, and elevated postdexamethasone cortisol.

We report a case of a 22-year-old female with pedal edema, hypokalemia, and hypertension. On suspicion of hyperaldosteronism, further workup was pursued, which only revealed a low serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and an inappropriately normal cortisol level after a 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test, suggestive of primary hypercortisolism. CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed a left adrenal mass. Based on the clinical findings and biochemical abnormalities, we were expecting this tumor to be aldosterone-secreting, but both serum aldosterone and renin levels were normal in our patient. Eventual surgical resection confirmed initial suspicions of malignancy, as it was found to be adrenal cortical carcinoma. This case highlights the unusual presentation of this rare but aggressive endocrinologic neoplasm and the importance of its prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Gastric diverticula are a rare phenomenon that is typically asymptomatic and encountered incidentally. Due to the relative proximity between the gastric diverticula and the left adrenal gland, they may mimic adrenal masses on computed tomography (CT). For this reason, the preferred diagnostic methods for gastric diverticula are upper gastrointestinal series or direct visualization on endoscopy. The present report describes an unusual case of a gastric diverticulum mimicking an abscess of the adrenal gland with the apparent spread of infection to the left lower lobe of the lung.

Hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal females may arise from either ovarian or adrenal sources and can pose a challenging diagnostic dilemma. We present the case of a 66-year-old female with postmenopausal hyperandrogenism with virilization, adrenal incidentaloma, and concurrent finding of two extremely rare ovarian tumors, including bilateral Leydig cell tumor and Brenner tumor. Laboratory tests showed elevated testosterone and androstenedione and normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Response to 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test demonstrated persistently elevated testosterone and incomplete suppression of androstenedione. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a left adrenal nodule and an unremarkable appearance of the ovaries. The pelvic ultrasound did not show an ovarian tumor on the right ovary, and the left ovary was not seen. Adrenal and ovarian vein sampling suggested the ovaries as the source of the testosterone. Given the ovarian vein sampling results, a multidisciplinary discussion between endocrinology and gynecologic oncology concluded that bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) was the next best step for diagnosis and management. Laparoscopic BSO was performed. Histopathology showed bilateral Leydig cell tumors and a left ovarian Brenner tumor. At one-year postoperative follow-up, alopecia improved, and testosterone level normalized. This case highlights the importance of diagnostic pathways and interdisciplinary collaboration in managing rare clinical scenarios of hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal females. As in our case, surgeons may be hesitant to remove normal-appearing ovaries. While the three presented tumor types in this case arise from distinct tissues and exhibit different histological characteristics, the presence of such a unique triad prompts consideration of potential unifying pathogenic mechanisms.