Addisonian crisis secondary to bilateral adrenal metastases in rectal carcinoma: report of a rare case and literature review

Adrenal insufficiency due to bilateral adrenal metastases - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Bilateral adrenal metastases may cause adrenal insufficiency (AI) but it is unclear if screening for AI in patients with bilateral adrenal metastases is justified, despite the potential for adrenal crises.

Method

A search using PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Reviews was performed to collect all original research articles and all case reports from the past 50 years that describe AI in bilateral adrenal metastases.

Results

Twenty studies were included with 6 original research articles, 13 case reports and one case series. The quality was generally poor. The prevalence of AI was 3–8%. Of all cases of AI (n = 25) the mean pooled baseline cortisol was 318 ± 237 nmol/L and stimulated 423 ± 238 nmol/L. Hypotension was present in 69%, hyponatremia in 9% and hyperkalemia in 100%. Lung cancer was the cause in 35%, colorectal 20%, breast cancer 15% and lymphoma 10%. The size of the adrenal metastases was 5.5 ± 2.8 cm (left) and 5.5 ± 3.1 cm (right), respectively. There was no correlation between basal cortisol, stimulated cortisol concentration or ACTH with the size of adrenal metastases. The median time to death was 5.0 months (IQR 0.6–6.5). However, two cases were alive after 12–24 months.

Conclusion

The prevalence of AI in patients with bilateral adrenal metastases was low. Prognosis was very poor. Due to the low prevalence of AI, screening is likely only indicated in patients with symptoms and signs suggestive of hypocortisolism.

Adrenal crisis: prevention and management in adult patients

Adrenal crisis is an acute life-threatening emergency contributing to the excess mortality that is reported in patients with adrenal insufficiency. The incidence of adrenal crisis is estimated to be 8 per 100 patient years in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Patients with adrenal crisis present systemically unwell with nonspecific signs and symptoms often leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. An adrenal crisis may be the first presentation of adrenal insufficiency or can occur in patients who have been established on glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Infections are the major precipitating factor, but other causes include physical stress such as a surgical procedure or trauma, forgetting or discontinuing glucocorticoid therapy, pronounced physical activity, and psychological stress. The emergency treatment involves prompt recognition and administration of parenteral hydrocortisone, rehydration and management of electrolyte abnormalities. Prevention is centred around patient education. All patients should be educated on stress dosing and parenteral glucocorticoid administration. They should carry a steroid dependency alert card and wear a medical alert bracelet or similar identification. Despite many improvements in the management of patients with adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis continues to occur and represents a major source of morbidity, mortality and distress for patients. Improved patient and clinician education and measures to facilitate parenteral hydrocortisone self-administration in impending crisis are central to the management of this life-threatening event.

Adrenal Insufficiency in Metastatic Lung Cancer

We report a case of adrenal insufficiency in patient with lung cancer. Although adrenal metastases are common in cancer patients, adrenal insufficiency is a rare occurrence. Diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency will improve the physical status and the quality of life in those patients.

Metachronous bilateral isolated adrenal metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma: a case report

We report a case of adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer in a 54-year-old woman. Nine months after resection for advanced rectal carcinoma, a computed tomography scan revealed bilateral adrenal metastasis. The level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen was normal. A bilateral adrenalectomy was performed after chemotherapy. Histopathological examination showed adenocarcinoma, compatible with metastasis from the rectal cancer. Adrenal metastasis should be considered in the patients' follow-up for colorectal cancer.