Bilateral adrenal tumors from different histology: case report and literature review

Bilateral adrenal tumors are very uncommon in clinical practice and all originate from the same histology. We presented here a case report and literature review of bilateral adrenal tumors from different histology: pheochromocytoma in one side and adrenocortical adenoma in the other side. The patient was a 37 years old female suffered from Cushing's syndrome form 3 years. One year ago she was diagnosed as ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome and received Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for right adrenal tumor which diagnosed as a pheochromocytoma by the pathological reports. After the operation, patient's clinical manifestation was not change, then half-year later the lab test showed no improvement in the blood biochemical parameters. Finally, CT detected a mass in left adrenal gland. Thereafter, this patient received Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for left adrenal tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma by the pathologists. One week after operation, the blood biochemical parameters became normal. In conclusion, bilateral adrenal tumors from different histology are very rare, adrenalectomy for both side tumors and preserving the normal adrenal glands is necessary.