Benign Feminizing Adrenal Tumor in an Adult Male

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Feminizing adrenal tumors are rare, often malignant neoplasms primarily affecting adult males and children.
• Benign, estrogen-only-secreting adrenal tumors are exceptionally rare, with only two prior reported cases.

Observation:

• A 44-year-old male with hypertension presented with gynecomastia, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction.
• Hormonal assays and imaging revealed an estrogen-secreting adrenal adenoma.
• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed, with a benign adrenal cortical adenoma confirmed histopathologically (Weiss score 0, Ki-67 score 0%).

Findings:

• The patient experienced significant symptom improvement and normalization of sex hormone levels post-surgery.
• Radiologic, clinical, and histopathologic findings were consistent with a benign adrenal tumor.

Implications:

• Establishes diagnostic criteria for benign feminizing adrenal tumors, integrating imaging (Hounsfield units), clinical data (hormone trends), and pathology (Weiss/Ki-67 scores).
• Aids in differentiating benign from malignant feminizing adrenal tumors, guiding appropriate clinical management.