Primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (PPNAD) accounts for <1% of ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome. We describe the case of twin female patients with PPNAD who both had sustainable disease control after unilateral adrenalectomy, which corroborates current evidence in favor of unilateral adrenalectomy for a subset of patients with PPNAD. Patient A presented with a 10-kg weight gain over the past year and facial plethora. Diagnostic evaluation revealed abolition of normal cortisol rhythm with suppressed ACTH levels, normal adrenal CT and MRI imaging and a slightly left-predominant adrenal uptake on 131I iodomethyl norcholesterol scintigraphy coupled with single-photon emission CT/CT. PPNAD was confirmed after genetic testing revealed a known pathogenic PRKA1A mutation (c.709 (-7-2) del6). At that time, her twin sister (patient B) was asymptomatic. Patient A underwent successful unilateral adrenalectomy and histology confirmed PPNAD. Two years after initial onset of symptoms in patient A, patient B was seen for the same subtle symptoms of progressive weight gain. Diagnostic test results were identical, revealing the same clinical features and mutational status as patient A. Patient B also underwent unilateral adrenalectomy with a favorable outcome. Follow-up 3 years after surgery for patient A and 18 months for patient B showed sustained disease control without recurrence and uncompromised quality of life, with no adrenal insufficiency having occurred. Unilateral adrenalectomy can be a successful therapeutic approach for patients with PPNAD with a mild phenotype without the risk and the inconvenience of subsequent adrenal insufficiency, which alters quality of life.
Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2018 Oct 24*** epublish ***
Aglaia Kyrilli, Maria Lytrivi, Marie Sylvie Bouquegneau, Pieter Demetter, Valerio Lucidi, Camilo Garcia, Rodrigo Moreno-Reyes, Antoine Tabarin, Bernard Corvilain, Natacha Driessens
Division of Endocrinology, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium., Division of Endocrinology, CHU Ambroise Pare, Mons, Belgium., Division of Anatomopathology, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium., Division of Digestive Surgery, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium., Division of Nuclear Medicine, Bordet Institut, Brussels, Belgium., Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium., Division of Endocrinology, CHU de Bordeaux, France.