A Case of Silent Corticotroph-cell Adenoma with Elevated Serum ACTH / 대한내분비학회지

ABSTRACT

A 48 year-old man was referred to our Department with a headache, and also presented with an elevated serum ACTH level, but without an elevated serum cortisol. Although there was no clinical evidence of Cushing's syndrome, a brain CT and MRI showed a 4x4.5 cm sized pituitary mass, which was successfully removed by a transsphenoidal approach (TSA). A histopathological examination revealed the mass to have an ACTH positive reaction. Therefore, through hormonal and pathological evaluation, a silent corticotroph-cell adenoma (SCCA), with an elevated serum ACTH level, was diagnosed. Although reports on SCCA have been recently increased, this case is reported because these kinds of tumor are still rare, and those SCCA with an elevated serum ACTH even more so