Non-Functioning Adrenocortical Carcinoma Presenting as Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage With Early Metastasis

Cureus. 2022 Nov 19;14(11):e31665. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31665. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Adrenocortical cancer is a rare neoplasm with varied clinical presentation and overall poor outcome. This should be managed with timely intervention at highly specialized centers. Our aim is to report this rare case presentation of large non-functional adrenocortical cancer, complicated by spontaneous rupture while awaiting workup leading to life-threatening hemorrhage. Despite successful emergency radical surgical management and achieving negative margins, the patient developed early recurrence as intra-abdominal metastasis within two months. This can likely be attributed to the aggressive nature of the tumor as indicated by the high Ki-67 index or spillage of the tumor cells following spontaneous rupture. We recommend managing these non-functioning adrenocortical cancers as early as possible at highly specialized centers with reference to published standard guidelines.

Keywords: early recurrence; non functioning adrenocortical cancer; retroperitoneal haemorrhage; spontaneous rupture; surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports