Oncocytic adrenal cortical carcinosarcoma with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomatous metastases

Am J Surg Pathol. 2012 Mar;36(3):470-7. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e31824517d9.

Abstract

Adrenal cortical carcinosarcoma is a rare variant of adrenal cortical carcinoma. Sarcomatous change in adrenal cortical carcinomas is exceptionally rare, with only 9 cases previously described. Adrenal cortical carcinosarcomas tend to be aggressive tumors, with locoregional recurrence and rapid metastases from the sarcomatoid component. We describe what seems to be the first case of sarcoma arising in oncocytic adrenal cortical carcinoma. The sarcomatous component here was pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. This occurred in a 45-year-old man who had nodal and pulmonary metastases of the rhabdomyosarcomatous component at presentation and who died of progressive disease 11 months later. Here, we discuss the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings and review the literature on adrenal cortical carcinosarcomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / therapy
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma / therapy
  • Biopsy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinosarcoma / pathology*
  • Carcinosarcoma / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxyphil Cells / pathology*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / secondary*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / therapy