ABSTRACT
The differential diagnosis between malignant and benign adrenal cortical tumors is challenging, and concurrent androgen and cortisol production should raise⯠suspicion of a malignant tumor. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman who exhibited pronounced hirsutism, clitoromegaly, and secondary amenorrhea. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 35 × 27â mm right adrenal mass with unenhanced CT attenuation of 40 Hounsfield units (HUs). The mass exhibited absolute and relative washout rates of 50% and 28%, respectively, and was accompanied by a 25 × 20â mm adenopathy located in the hepatogastric space. Total testosterone was elevated by 247â ng/dL (8.56â nmol/L) (normal reference range, 10-75â ng/dL; 0.34-2.6â nmol/L). A 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test revealed an elevated serum morning cortisol concentration of 10.57â µg/dL (291.58â nmol/L) (reference range, <1.8â µg/dL; <â¯49.66â nmol/L). A fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan revealed increased uptake in both the adrenal mass and the adenopathy. Subsequently, the patient underwent an open right adrenalectomy and lymphadenectomy. Histological examination revealed the presence of an adrenal adenoma with myelolipomatous metaplasia, as well as a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the adenopathy.