[Malignant adrenal cortex tumors responsible for primary hyperaldosteronism and biological hypercorticism. Remarks apropos of 2 surgically-treated cases]

Two cases of malignant adrenal cortex tumors revealed by primary hyperaldosteronism with hypertension, and associated with a biological hypercortisonism, are reported. Diagnosis of this very rare affection depends on the finding of marked biological hyperaldosteronism associated with a large adrenal tumor. The outcome appears to be rapidly fatal for tumors exceeding 5 cm in diameter and associated with lymph node invasion. This raises the problem of the utility of surgery in these cases, operative intervention apparently accelerating progression of the lesion. In practice, however, a laparotomy is always justifiable, the most rational biopsy being excision of the tumor.