Intermittent hyperaldosteronism in a child due to an adrenal adenoma

Abstract

Aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) is a rare but potentially curable form of paediatric hypertension. We report a case of APA in a 9-year-old boy, suspected due to persistent hypokalaemia. Neither BP nor initial laboratory investigations disclosed the diagnosis and the presence of an APA was suggested by functional tests and radiological findings. Histologically, a cortical tumour was found associated with a marked medullary hyperplasia of both chromaffin and ganglion cells.

Conclusion This case reinforces the need for further investigations in patients with misleading clinical and laboratory data.