Sunday, October 25, 2020

Cushing’s and Bilateral Adrenal Tumors

This post is for those with nodules on both adrenal glands, and the endo/ surgeon wants to remove one first to see how it goes. Before you agree, be sure to ask to be tested for Conn's and the gene PRKAR1A. [In fact, there are other genetic causes for bilateral adrenal tumors like iMAD, PRKACA, PRKAR1A, GNAS, PDE11A, PDE8B,PBMAH, ARMC5, plus others].

PPNAD/ normal CT scan.

PRKAR1A-negative familial Cushing's syndrome: two case reports
Lee Ling Lim et al. J Med Case Rep. 2015.

CONCLUSION:
"The cases of these two patients illustrate the difficulties involved in diagnosing primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease, a variant of adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing's syndrome that is managed with bilateral adrenalectomy. A high index of suspicion for this disease is needed, especially in adolescents with adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing's syndrome who have a significant family history, features of Carney's complex, and no resolution of Cushing's syndrome after unilateral adrenalectomy.

**Patients with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease can either have bilateral/multiple adrenal nodules or normal adrenal glands visualized by computed tomography.*** Long-term surveillance is imperative in patients with confirmed Carney's complex and in those who have not undergone complete genetic testing to exclude this hereditary disorder."

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26619967/