Addison's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Addison's Disease, including details on chronic adrenal insufficiency, treatment, causes, medication.

A case of primary unilateral adrenal Burkitt-like large cell lymphoma presenting as adrenal insufficiency.

Zhang L, Talwalkar SS, Shaheen SP

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.

Primary adrenal lymphoma is extraordinarily rare, in comparison with secondary adrenal involvement by non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although higher-resolution imaging techniques have enhanced detection of adrenal masses, biopsy or excision is often needed for definitive diagnosis. Percutaneous computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration has great diagnostic value in the workup of adrenal masses, but is limited by sampling error and artifacts. Primary adrenal lymphoma most commonly manifests with diffuse large B-cell morphology. Burkitt-like large cell lymphoma morphology has been previously reported only once, to our knowledge. We report an 80-year-old man presenting with unilateral primary adrenal lymphoma showing Burkitt-like morphology and adrenal insufficiency. Fine needle aspiration yielded a dispersed population of monomorphic, medium to large cells suggestive of lymphoma. Although dispersed cell populations cytologically favor lymphoma, metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma and adrenal cortical carcinoma can manifest similarly. Integrated histological, immunohistochemical, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping would provide an accurate and definitive diagnosis. We review the literature and discuss important issues with regard to diagnosis.

Published 12 March 2007 in Ann Diagn Pathol, 11(2): 127-31.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Addison's Disease Research Today. All Rights Reserved.