A clinical case of Cushing’s syndrome caused by an ectopic cortisol-producing tumor

Abstract

It is known a surgeon operating on the adrenal glands, should be aware of the possibility of the presence of ectopic adrenal tissue. According to the literature, there are relapses of Cushing's disease due to hyperfunction of adrenal accessory tissue. Its location may be the perinephric tissue, testicles, mediastinum, kidneys, urinary tract, broad ligament of the uterus, vagina, scrotum. The inclusion of adrenal tissue in the ovaries, liver, pancreas is also described. There is some evidence that additional adrenal tissue can be a source of tumors, including hormonal-active ones. O. I. Nikolaev (1970) cites a case of ectopia of a tumor in the kidney, 4 cases of ectopia in one of the ovaries, which, in addition to symptoms of hypercorticism, was accompanied by severe virilization. However, this pathology is extremely rare, therefore, there are few publications in the literature. In this regard, it seems appropriate to us to make such an observation.