%0 Journal Article
%T Prolonged Adrenal Insufficiency after Unilateral Adrenalectomy for Cortisolic Adenoma
%A Fatima Akioud
%A Farida Ajdi
%A Ikram Damoune
%J Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
%P 45-51
%@ 2165-7432
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojemd.2023.133005
%X Background: The suppression of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumors
is well recognized and requires peri- and postoperative hydrocortisone substitution. Case Presentation: A 48-year-old female patient with
hypertension and progressive weight gain, the clinical signs of hypercorticism
motivated a hormonal workup revealing an independent ACTH Cushing¡¯s syndrome: with urinary free cortisol (UFC) at 649 nmol/24h (4¡Á
normal), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) at 1.5 ng/l. The rest of the
hormonal workup was not performed due to a lack of financial means. An Adrenal CT scan showed a 4 cm right adrenal adenoma.
The patient underwent a right adrenalectomy with an adrenal adenoma on
pathological examination. The contralateral side was normal. The patient was
treated with hydrocortisone 30 mg/d for 6 weeks then 15 mg/d, during the monitoring
we noted a persistence of the adrenal insufficiency for now
4 years. Basal cortisol levels during follow-up were very low (<3 ¦̀g/dl)
ruling out the need for synacthen stimulation tests. Conclusion: Adrenal
cortisol tumors are recognized by suppression, the duration of hypothala