Adrenal cortical carcinoma: an unusual cause of hyperaldosteronism

Although secondary hyperaldosteronism due to renal vein thrombosis may occur as a result of renal cell carcinoma or adrenal cortical carcinoma, primary hyperaldosteronism is rarely associated with the latter. This paper describes a patient with adrenal cortical carcinoma who presented with the clinical features of primary hyperaldosteronism 1 year after hypertension had been diagnosed; intravenous pyelography had not been done then. Drug therapy was ineffective, and the patient died 10 weeks after presentation.