Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of ectopic Cushing's syndrome and presents a challenge to the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment. In this study, a rare case of adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pheochromocytoma is presented. A 55-years-old man with the symptoms of hypercortisolism, multidrug-resistant hypertension, and an adrenal mass is presented. The laboratory results were consistent with hypercortisolism, high plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone, high 24-hour urine metanephrine and normetanephrine and severe hypokalemia. Abdominal computerized tomography showed a 3-cm non-adenoma left adrenal mass. After preoperative management, left adrenalectomy was performed. A histopathological examination revealed a 2.5 cm pheochromocytoma with focal positivity for adrenocorticotropic hormone. The patient was discharged with full recovery under hydrocortisone replacement therapy. Furthermore, six weeks after the operation, 24-hour urinary excretion of metanephrine and normetanephrine was within normal ranges. In conclusion, an adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pheochromocytoma should be considered in patients with clinical manifestations of ectopic Cushing's syndrome and adrenal mass.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.