Delayed Identification of Adolescent Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma Initially Diagnosed as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Liu Ziqin MD; Wu Yurui MD; Chen Xiaobo PhD; Liu Jing MD; Liu Yuzhu MD

doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2021.03.004

Delayed Identification of Adolescent Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma Initially Diagnosed as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Oct;34(5):764-767. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.03.004. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Authors

Liu Ziqin MD¹, Wu Yurui MD², Chen Xiaobo PhD³, Liu Jing MD², Liu Yuzhu MD²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China. Electronic address: 1934855597@qq.com.
² Department of Thoracic Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Endocrinology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.

PMID: 33775909
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.03.004

Abstract

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare, isolated malignancy.

Case: A 13-year-old girl presented with secondary amenorrhea, hirsutism, and hypertension. Her clinical manifestations were interpreted as polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperinsulinemia. The rapid progression of this pubertal girl's virilization should have, but did not draw clinical attention to her malignancy. Because her condition worsened, she ultimately was transferred to our hospital because of an abdominal mass. She was diagnosed with a very large adrenal cortical carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis. The child was in the advanced stage and presented adrenal crisis after chemotherapy and mitotane treatment.

Summary and conclusion: Rapidly progressive masculinization, with a marked increase in adrenal-derived androgens, might indicate rare adrenal neoplasms.

Keywords: Adrenocortical carcinoma; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Virilization.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* / diagnosis
Female
Hirsutism / etiology
Humans
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / diagnosis
Virilism / etiology