Objectives: Adrenal gland hypertrophy can be related to acute stress with abnormal adrenal function tests. It may not always need treatment. Material and methods: An acute presentation of adrenal gland hypertrophy following an abdominal emergency, with subsequent hypoadrenalism was investigated. Results: Adrenal medullary and cortical function fully recovered without treatment.
Conclusions:We postulate that the adrenal glands became enlarged and hypertrophied during an acute stress event, possibly caused by acute adrenal medullary hypersecretion and subsequent cortical hyposecretion. A wait and watch policy should be followed if no other clinical symptoms and signs of adrenal disease are present. CT scan remains an important diagnostic tool.
LEARNING POINTS• Abnormal adrenocortical function tests and hypertrophy can occur in an acutely ill patient as a stress response.• It is possible to have both hypersecretion and hyposecretion of adrenal hormones.• A wait and watch policy should be followed if no other clinical symptoms and signs of adrenal disease are present in an acutely ill patient. KEYWORDS Adrenal gland hypertrophy, transient adrenal insufficiency, reversible adrenal dysfunction, transient adrenal medullary hyperactivity, stress related hypertension.
INTRODUCTIONThe adrenal medulla and cortex participate in the response to acute stress
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.