Aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma in childhood: a case report

An additional child case of an aldosterone-producing adenoma with an atypical presentation of peripheral paralysis due to hypokalemia

Aldosterone-producing adenoma, which is characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia, and elevated aldosterone levels with suppressed plasma renin activity, is a rare condition during childhood and is also potentially curable. To the best of our knowledge, nearly 25 cases of childhood aldosterone-secreting adenoma have been reported in the literature to date. Here we describe a 13-yr-old girl with primary hyperaldosteronism secondary to aldosterone-secreting adenoma. The patient was admitted to our hospital with the neuromuscular complaints of muscle weakness and inability to walk due to hypokalemia. She had been misdiagnosed as having hypokalemic periodic paralysis 2 months before admission and her symptoms had radically improved with potassium supplementation. However, her blood pressure levels had increased and her symptoms reappeared 2 days prior to being observed during hospitalization in our institution. Laboratory examinations revealed hypokalemia (2.1 mEq/l), and increased serum aldosterone levels with suppressed plasma renin activity. Abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed left adrenal mass. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and histopathological examinations showed benign adrenal adenoma. Serum aldosterone levels and blood pressure levels returned to normal after surgical intervention. This case demonstrates the importance of a systemic evaluation including blood pressure monitorization of children with hypokalemia as intermittent hypertension episodes may be seen; cases without hypertension may be misdiagnosed as rheumatological or neurological disorders such as hypokalemic periodic paralysis, as in our case.

Adrenocortical adenoma with rhabdoid features

We report a case of an aldosterone producing adrenocortical adenoma with rhabdoid features in a 16-year-old girl. Grossly, the tumor measured 30 mm in diameter and weighed 24 g. Histologically, the tumor was composed of approximately equal parts of tumor cells with rhabdoid features arranged in a solid and trabecular pattern and cells characterized by compact eosinophilic cytoplasm, solid growth with focal necroses, and increased mitotic activity. The lipid-rich tumor cells with ample clear vacuolized cytoplasm represent a minor component. Immunohistochemically, all the tumor cells showed the same results and were positive for vimentin, synaptophysin, Melan A, and alpha-inhibin. Cytokeratin CAM 5.2 was positive only focally. Chromogranin A, actin, alpha-actin, S100 protein, EMA, and cytokeratin AE1/AE3 were negative. Rhabdoid features have been described in many tumors of variable histogenesis; however, to the best of our knowledge, the presence of rhabdoid phenotype has never been described in either adrenocortical adenoma or carcinoma.

Primary hyperaldosteronism with normokalaemia secondary to an adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome) in a 12 year-old boy

A 12-1/2 year-old boy presented to the Accident Department following an episode of dizziness and was found to be hypertensive. Investigations revealed primary hyperaldosteronism secondary to an adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome). He had normal electrolytes during the period of investigation and potassium concentrations were > or = 4.2 mmol/l on all but one occasion. The hypertension resolved following excision of the adrenal tumour. Normokalaemia with potassium >4.0 mmol/l is very unusual in patients with Conn's syndrome and has not been described in childhood before. Primary hyperaldosteronism needs to be considered in hypertensive children even when potassium concentrations are well within the laboratory reference range.