Alireza Ahmadi; Sepideh Namdar; Sajjad Daneshyar
Abstract
Occasionally, lymphoma involves the adrenal glands; however, primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) is rare and only few cases have been reported. We report a case of a 59-year-old female with primary adrenal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) manifested by weakness, fatigue, anorexia, and hyper pigmentation ...
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Occasionally, lymphoma involves the adrenal glands; however, primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) is rare and only few cases have been reported. We report a case of a 59-year-old female with primary adrenal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) manifested by weakness, fatigue, anorexia, and hyper pigmentation of skin. The patient initially responded to intravenous hydrocortisone in large doses by total remission of the symptoms. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a hypodense mass in the right subdiaphragmatic space, which was suggestive of an adrenal gland tumor with adjacent liver involvement. Additionally, a smaller lesion with similar characteristics was found in the left adrenal gland. The results obtained from adrenal gland needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of DLBCL. Moreover, primary laboratory findings demonstrated hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, fasting blood sugar level of 153 mg/dl, and alkaline phosphatase level of 663 U/L. The mentioned symptoms and laboratory findings were indicative of adrenal insufficiency. After about 2 months, her level of consciousness decreased and urinary and fecal incontinence occurred. Therefore, brain involvement was suspected, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed heterogeneous enhancement (24.8 mm) in the posterior aspect of the left temporal lobe together with patchy foci of enhancement in around the ventricular areas of the brain that showed metastatic lesions of PAL. This case should remind clinicians that PAL may be a cause of adrenal incidentaloma, especially when the patient presents with the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.