Clinically significant adrenal hemorrhage secondary to metastases. Computed tomography observations

Clinically significant adrenal hemorrhage due to adrenal metastases has rarely been reported. We describe three cases of this unusual entity, two from lung carcinoma and one from sarcoma. Adrenal hemorrhage was bilateral in two patients, and was the presenting manifestation of malignancy in two. A computed tomography diagnosis of hemorrhage within bilateral adrenal metastases was made when adrenal masses rapidly enlarged in one case, and when previously resolving hematomas showed enlargement in a second case. The third case was believed to represent a pheochromocytoma preoperatively. We conclude that significant adrenal hemorrhage can result from adrenal metastases and can be the presenting manifestation of metastatic tumor. In the patient without discernible risk factors for adrenal hemorrhage, underlying malignancy should be considered as a possible cause, even if the hemorrhage is bilateral.