[Malignant aldosteronoma in the differential diagnosis of Conn syndrome]

Primary aldosteronism-characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis--is caused by benign adenomata or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia in most cases. Aldosterone producing carcinomata of the adrenal cortex are very rare tumors. As the histological classification is difficult, the diagnosis is often drawn from tumor size, very high levels of plasma aldosterone, severe hypokalemia and malignant behaviour. The prognosis is very poor: Overall median and 5 year survival rate from diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma are 14 months and 24%.