Adrenal cortical and medullar hyperplasia--a retrospective analysis of 6 cases.

The features of the symptoms, laboratory tests and pathological characteristics of adrenal cortical and medullary hyperplasia were studied. In 6 cases of hypercatecholaminenia, plasma norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), catecholamine (CA) and 24-h urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (OHCS) and 17-ketosteroid (KS) were determined. Adrenal glands were examined by CT scan and 131I-MIBG imaging. Pathological examination was performed after operation. The results showed that in 6 cases of hypercatecholaminenia (3 men and 3 women) aged from 34-50 years, the clinical features were just like "pheochromocytoma", for example, episodic headache, perspiration, palpitation, pallor, apprehension, nausea, tremor, anxiety and so on. Plasma levels of CA, NE and E were elevated in all 6 cases. 24-h urinary samples obtained at the onset revealed elevated VMA in 1 case. 24-h urinary cortisol was obviously elevated in all 6 cases. 24-h urinary 17-OHCS, 17-KS was normal. B-type ultrasound, CT, MRI and 131I-MIBG revealed 9 lateral adrenal gland diffuse or nodular enlargement in 6 cases. Pathologic examination showed adrenal cortical and medullary hyperplasia. Clinically, adrenal cortical and medullary hyperplasia resembled "pheochromocytoma". The most significant feature of this disease was both elevated plasma CA and 24-h urinary cortisol obviously. Pathologic examination showed adrenal cortex nodular hyperplasia and medullar diffuse or limit hyperplasia. Whether it is an independent disease or symptoms of the other disease has not final conclusion up till now.