Two cases of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome with olfactory neuroblastoma and literature review

Endocr J. 2008 Jul;55(3):469-75. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k07e-005. Epub 2008 May 9.

Abstract

Olfactory neuroblastomas are rare, slow-growing malignant tumors, usually diagnosed at advanced stages. Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome caused by an olfactory neuroblastoma is extremely rare. We reported two Korean women who suffered from ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) caused by olfactory neuroblastomas. The first patient was a 66-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as olfactory neuroblastoma and refused the management two years before and the second patient was a 37-year-old woman on chemotherapy for olfactory neuroblastoma. In the first case, she presented the Cushingoid appearance with systemic edema and her tumor was removed surgically. ACTH secretion by the tissue was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. By contrast, the second patient presented as severe pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus and was treated with anti-viral agent followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and her residual mass remained. However, after treatment, both patients' plasma ACTH and cortisol levels returned to normal without any adrenolytic therapy. Considering the causative tumors of EAS can be rarely cured and EAS increases the susceptibility to infections, it is prudent to suppress any hypercortisolemia initially, apart from treating the causal malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / blood
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / diagnostic imaging
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / metabolism*
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / urine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / urine
  • Nasal Cavity / diagnostic imaging*
  • Nasal Cavity / metabolism
  • Nose Neoplasms / blood
  • Nose Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Nose Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Nose Neoplasms / urine
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Hydrocortisone