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The clinicopathologic significance of unilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia: Report of an unusual case and a review of the literature

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Abstract

We report a case of unilateral primary adrenal cortical hyperplasia associated with hyperaldosteronism in a 39-yr-old Chinese man. The patient presented with hypertension, hypokalemia, primary hyperaldosteronism, suppressed renin activity, and was complicated with aortic dissection. The aortic dissection required emergency realignment while unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed subsequently. Pathologic examination of the adrenal lesion revealed multiple cortical nodules (up to 1.4 cm in diameter). No telomerase activity was detected in the adrenal lesion. A review of the literature showed that unilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia has a predilection for the left side occurring more often in males. We conclude that unilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia is a rare but unique entity and that unilateral adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

    King-Yin Lam FRCPA

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Chung-Yau Lo FRCSED

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  1. King-Yin Lam FRCPA
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  2. Chung-Yau Lo FRCSED
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Correspondence to King-Yin Lam FRCPA.

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Lam, KY., Lo, CY. The clinicopathologic significance of unilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia: Report of an unusual case and a review of the literature. Endocr Pathol 10, 243–249 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02738886

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