Adrenal Choriocarcinoma

Full Article

R Koul, A Dubey, T Dufan, AL Cooke, R Wong

Hong Kong J Radiol 2007;10:23-6

Adrenocortical cancers are uncommon malignancies that present with protean clinical manifestations. Adrenocortical masses are common; autopsy studies show approximately 5% to 15% of the general adult population may have adrenal incidentalomas. Adrenal incidentalomas are biochemically and clinically asymptomatic adrenal masses found incidentally as a result of unrelated imaging investigation. Adrenal gland tumours arise from the cortex or the medulla. Cortical tumours produce excess secretion of steroid hormones and aldosterone, whereas medullary tumours produce catecholamine. This report is of a patient with a rare adrenal malignancy that was pathologically compatible with choriocarcinoma, who presented with uncontrolled hypertension.