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Young female patient with testosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma also showing signs of subclinical Cushing's syndrome.
- Source :
-
Endocrine journal [Endocr J] 1995 Apr; Vol. 42 (2), pp. 283-8. - Publication Year :
- 1995
-
Abstract
- A 28-year old female patient with virilization due to left adrenocortical adenoma was studied. The patient had clinical features of hyperandrogenism such as hirsutism and a low pitched voice, but not of hypercorticoidism. Plasma testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were high. Although the basal plasma cortisol concentration and urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) were within the normal range, the absence of diurnal variation in plasma cortisol and loss of suppressibility by dexamethasone suggested constitutive secretion of cortisol by the tumor. Inappropriate cortisol secretion was also supported by blunted ACTH response to provocative stimuli. After successful removal of the left adrenal tumor, such endocrinological abnormalities were all normalized. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that tumor cells were positively stained for C21 hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 (P-450C21) and P-450(11) beta which convert 17-hydroxy (OH) progesterone to cortisol as well as P-450SCC, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and P-450(17) alpha which are involved in testosterone biosynthesis. These findings suggest that adrenocortical adenoma secretes predominantly testosterone and constitutively cortisol in a young woman patient with virilization.
- Subjects :
- 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids urine
17-Ketosteroids urine
Adenoma pathology
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms pathology
Adult
Circadian Rhythm
Cortodoxone blood
Cushing Syndrome metabolism
Dehydroepiandrosterone analogs & derivatives
Dehydroepiandrosterone blood
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Dexamethasone
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone blood
Hydrocortisone urine
Immunohistochemistry
Japan
Testosterone blood
Adenoma metabolism
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms metabolism
Cushing Syndrome diagnosis
Testosterone biosynthesis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0918-8959
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Endocrine journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 7627274
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.42.283