[A feminizing adrenal carcinoma in man: in vivo and in vitro study (author's transl)]

A 31 years old man with an adrenocortical carcinoma was studied. Clinically he had a bilateral and recidiving gynecomastia and showed high urinary oestrogens, 17 cetosteroids, tetra-hydro-desoxy-cortisol and pregnandiol excretion with normal cortisol production. A partial increase on ACTH, no suppression on dexamethasone and no variation on HCG administration were observed. The surgical resection of the tumor normalized this urinary excretion. The serum dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA) and sulfate (DHEAS), oestrone, oestradiol, androstenedione (A) levels were greatly elevated. No variations of the cortisol, A, DHEA and DHEAS was noted after ACTH injection. In vitro the lack of ACTH's action was related to an anomaly of ACTH receptor with normal protein kinase activity.