Ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to a mesenteric neuroendocrine tumour

Two synchronous primary mesenteric neuroendocrine tumors in a patient: a case report

Primary mesenteric neuroendocrine tumors represent a rare clinical entity, challenging to manage, while a combination of imaging is demanded in order to differentiate it from metastatic disease, and set the diagnosis. If the tumor is resectable, surgery is the fundament of the therapeutic approach. The appearance of a second primary mesenteric tumor suggests an unacquainted scenario. The current article presents a case of a 40-year-old woman, who underwent laparoscopic excision of a mesenteric tumor located close to the left pararenal space. Pathology with immunohistochemistry examination reported neuroendocrine tumor grade 2. No further treatment was necessary. Seven months later, 68-Gallium DOTATATE detected another primary neuroendocrine tumor located at the right retroperitoneal space without other lesions. The second tumor was also resected laparoscopically, and the pathology confirmed the diagnosis of another neuroendocrine tumor G2. The postoperative course was uneventful, and six months later the patient is disease-free. The adequacy of 68-Gallium DOTATATE for the preoperative diagnosis of primary mesenteric tumors, the role of the laparoscopic approach, and the extent of lymph node resection are matters addressed in this article.

A Case of Cushing's Syndrome from Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Small Bowel and Its Mesentery

Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)-producing neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rarely found in the small bowel, and primary mesenteric NETs have only been reported in a few cases globally. We report the case of a 68-year-old female with ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to excessive ACTH secretion from small bowel primary lesions and mesenteric metastasis. Initially, only the mesenteric mass was detected on imaging and endoscopy/colonoscopy, and it was only with surgical exploration that the small bowel lesions were found. This highlights the importance of high clinical suspicion and robust investigation when locating NETs. Surgical resection of the affected small bowel and mesentery was the definitive treatment for this patient. Initial hydrocortisone replacement therapy was needed, and subsequent biochemical tests and clinical reviews demonstrated no recurrence.

Median 10 years follow-up of patients with covert Cushing's syndrome: a case series

Background

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome occurs in 10% of all patients with adrenocorticotropic-hormone-dependent hypercortisolism. It is usually associated with overt malignancies or with occult and indolent tumors. This study aims to confirm the source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone in four patients with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome over time.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old Iranian man with Cushing’s syndrome underwent bilateral adrenalectomy since the source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion was not localized and pituitary imaging was normal. A whole-body scan revealed a right-lung tumoral mass with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The mass was assumed a lung carcinoid tumor with mediastinal adenopathy. Right-lung mid-zone lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy were done. In a 47-year-old Iranian man with Cushing’s syndrome, whole-body computed tomography scan revealed a pulmonary nodule in the posterior segment of the left lower lobe of the lung. The third case was a 25-year-old Iranian man who presented with symptoms and signs of Cushing’s syndrome. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging revealed a microadenoma 5 × 9 mm. Whole-body scan showed abnormal focal somatostatin receptors analog avid lesion in the posterior aspect of inferior third of right lung, highly suggestive of ectopic adrenocorticotropic-hormone-producing tumor. The last case was a 43-year-old Iranian woman with Marfan syndrome with a history of mitral and aortic valve replacement and chronic dissection of the aorta, who presented with symptoms and signs of Cushing’s syndrome. She underwent bilateral adrenalectomy 1 year later owing to failure to locate ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome. Whole-body scan showed abnormally increased radiotracer uptake in the midline of the skull base and posterior aspect of the middle zone of left hemithorax and bed of left lobe of thyroid.

Conclusion

The clinical spectrum of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is wide, and distinguishing Cushing’s disease from ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is difficult. Initial failure to identify a tumor is common. Pulmonary carcinoid or occult source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is usually the cause. In occult cases of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone in which the tumor cannot be localized, serial follow-up with serial computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or scintigraphy is recommended for several years until the tumor can be localized and treated.