24 July 2025 : Case report
Ectopic Adrenocortical Adenoma Causing Malignant Hypertension and Hypokalemia
Xiaoyong Hu
BEF 1, Djandan Tadum Arthur Vithran EF 2,3, Zhaoying Yang BCD 1, Hongjian Li ACG 1*
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.948022
Am J Case Rep 2025; 26:e948022
Table 3 Characteristics of previous case reports on ectopic adrenocortical adenomas and related conditions.
| Authors | Year | Age (y) | Intervention | Outcomes | Adenoma location | Primary symptoms | Diagnostic Methods | Hyper-tension | Hypo-kalemia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makino et al []9 | 2010 | 21 | Partial nephrectomy | Normalized blood pressure and electrolytes | Spinal region | Seizures, high blood pressure | Abdominal CT, renal venous sampling | Yes | Yes |
| Zhang et al []10 | 2016 | 44 | Surgical resection | Successful differentiation from hepatocellular carcinoma | Renal sinus | Abdominal pain, liver mass | CT, MRI, histopathology | No | No |
| Ren et al []11 | 2013 | NA | Surgical resection | Normal outcome | Gastric wall | Gastric mass | CT, MRI, histopathology | No | No |
| Kepes et al []12 | 1990 | 8 | Surgical resection of ectopic adrenal cortical adenoma in the spinal canal | Resolution of symptoms with no recurrence | Spinal canal | Lower back pain, radicular symptoms | MRI, electromyography, histopathology | No | No |
| Liu et al []13 | 2016 | 38 | Surgical resection | Increased screening for primary aldosteronism | Renal hilum | Hypertension, hypokalemia | Aldosterone-to-renin ratio | Yes | Yes |
| Chen et al []14 | 2021 | 44 | Surgical resection of adrenocortical tumors | Successful differentiation from hepatocellular carcinoma | Liver | Abdominal pain, liver mass | CT, MRI, histopathology | No | No |
| Xie and Zhu []15 | 2023 | 53 | Adrenal surgery | Resolution of mitral regurgitation, improvement in hypertension and hypokalemia | Left adrenal gland | Hypertension, palpitation, chest pain | Electrocardiogram, echocardiography, CT | Yes | Yes |
| Nemir et al []16 | 2019 | 46 | Surgical resection of ectopic adrenal cortical adenoma in the spinal canal | Resolution of symptoms with no recurrence | Spinal canal | Lower back pain, radicular symptoms | MRI, electromyography, histopathology | No | No |
| Cardinalli et al []17 | 2012 | 17 | Surgical resection of functional adrenocortical adenoma and myelolipoma | Patient doing well with no current health issues | Renal hilum | Abdominal mass, hormonal imbalances | Radiologic studies, biochemical investigations | No | No |
| Park et al []18 | 2017 | 44 | Endoscopic and surgical removal of ectopic and intra-adrenal adenomas | Virilization regressed, height velocity normalized | Adrenal gland and ectopic locations | Pubarche, clitoral hypertrophy, tall stature | Ultrasound, MRI, hormonal assays | No | No |
| Nakamura et al []19 | 2010 | 53 | Management of gastric varices and surgical resection of pancreatic tumor | Resolution of gastric varices and successful management of portal hypertension | Tail of the pancreas and splenic hilum | Gastric varices, left-sided extrahepatic portal hypertension | CT, endoscopy, pathological investigations | No | No |
| Choukair et al []20 | 2013 | 2 | Endoscopic and surgical removal of ectopic and intra-adrenal adenomas | Virilization regressed, height velocity normalized | Adrenal gland and ectopic locations | Pubarche, clitoral hypertrophy, tall stature | Ultrasound, MRI, hormonal assays | No | No |