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Rare Presentation of Adrenocortical Carcinoma in a 4-Month-Old Boy
Sonali Malhotra1, Apoorva R Waikar2, Prabhsimranjot Singh3
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Infant and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Insights
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer, was diagnosed in a 4-month-old infant presenting with growth issues. The infant remained metastasis-free for 7 years post-surgery without chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare pediatric malignancy.
- Hormonally active tumors are common in pediatric ACC, often causing virilization.
- Cortisol hypersecretion and Cushing syndrome are exceptionally rare in infants with ACC.
Abstract:
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy and even rarer in infancy. Most of these tumors in pediatric age group are hormonally active and predominantly present with virilization. Cortisol hypersecretion presenting as Cushing syndrome is extremely rare and seen in older age groups. We report a 4-month-old infant who presented with linear growth arrest and excessive weight gain in early infancy, consequently diagnosed with ACC. On long-term follow-up for 7 years, he remained metastasis free following surgical resection and was not treated with chemotherapy.
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