Tuberculosis as a differential for bilateral adrenal masses in the UK.

Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a potentially fatal disease. Adrenal tuberculosis(TB) causing PAI is rare in the developed world. We present a seemingly well, 78-year-old Caucasianwoman in the UK who developed adrenal crisis following elective hip surgery. Biochemical tests confirmed PAI and steroid replacement was initiated. Imaging of the abdomen demonstrated bilateral adrenal masses and a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan showed increased uptake in both adrenals suggestive of malignancy. Following a retroperitoneoscopic left adrenalectomy, histology showed caseating necrosis with xanthogranulomatous inflammation favouring a diagnosis of TB. She was commenced on anti-TB treatment. Diagnosing adrenal TB in the west can be challenging especially in the absence of extra-adrenal TB. FDG-PET scans can be falsely positive in presence of chronic active inflammatory conditions, such as TB, and a tissue diagnosis is required. It is important that clinicians remain vigilant of this important disease, which can masquerade as malignancy.

Hyperthyroidism due to involvement of thyroid gland in disseminated tuberculosis: A rare entity.

Involvement of the thyroid gland with tuberculosis (TB) is unusual and is commonly associated with hypothyroidism. Involvement of the thyroid as a part of disseminated TB is even rarer. Dissemination is an indication of immunosuppression. We present a 16-year-old immunocompetent girl with disseminated TB involving the thyroid gland and the right radius bone with features of hyperthyroidism. The patient responded well to anti-TB treatment.

Adrenal tuberculosis masquerading as disseminated malignancy: A pitfall of (18)F-FDG PET/CT Imaging.

Non-invasive characterization of adrenal lesions is a commonly encountered diagnostic challenge. Characteristic clinical and correlative imaging findings may assist in only arriving at a probable diagnosis. Currently, (18)F-FDG PET/CT is considered to provide the most comprehensive imaging information. We here present a case of bilateral adrenal tuberculosis that highlights the need for caution during the interpretation of (18)F-FDG PET/CT and also the need to suggest histopathological correlation.

Addison's disease due to tuberculosis that required differentiation from SIADH.

A 77-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of general fatigue. Serum sodium was 116 mEq/l and serum antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was elevated. Radiologic examination revealed nodules in the brain as well as in both adrenal glands. Based on the findings of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), we had considered that the cause of the hyponatremia was syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) due to active extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Against our expectations, the patient's condition got worse just after he began antituberculous therapy; we finally diagnosed Addison's disease by additional hormonal tests. His condition recovered immediately with the administration of high-dose hydrocortisone, and the tuberculous lesions became smaller with antituberculous medications. Although tuberculous Addison's disease has been decreasing markedly in recent years, we have to consider the possibility of adrenal insufficiency when hyponatremia is observed in patients with active tuberculosis or those having a past history of tuberculosis.

Unilateral asymptomatic adrenal tuberculoma: the role of percutaneous biopsy.

We report the case of a 55-year-old male with a large left adrenal mass that conformed to the normal shape of the adrenal gland. Percutaneous biopsy revealed tuberculosis and, following anti-tuberculosis therapy, there was a >75% decrease in the size of the mass. In large tumefactions of the adrenal glands in which a normal adrenal contour is maintained, a percutaneous biopsy may obviate the need for major intervention.

Thyroid tuberculosis.

Although the association of thyroid disorders with tuberculosis has been known for a long time, the diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis is rare. Differential diagnosis can be very difficult without fine needle aspiration. The clinical course of the disease may resemble toxic goiter or acute thyroiditis or may follow a subacute or chronic pattern without specific symptomatology. We describe a 49-year old male patient with thyroid tuberculosis presenting as thyroid enlargement, fever, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, normal thyroid function tests, and a chest x-ray indicating the presence of a lesion with distinct calcification in the lower lobe of the right lung. Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland, although very rare, should be considered as a possible diagnosis when localized swelling, cold abscess or thyroid nodule with or without a cystic component are present.

Addison's disease due to adrenal tuberculosis: contrast-enhanced CT features and clinical duration correlation.

PURPOSE: To describe CT morphology of untreated adrenal tuberculosis during the different stages of the natural history of the disease and to evaluate the diagnostic implications of CT features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated CT features in 42 patients with documented adrenal tuberculosis for the location, size, morphology, and enhancement patterns shown on CT images. The clinical duration were correlated with the CT features. RESULTS: Of the 42 patients with untreated adrenal tuberculosis, bilaterally enlarged adrenal glands were revealed in 38 cases (91%), unilaterally enlarged in 3 cases (7%), and normal size in 1 case (2%). Of the 41 cases (98%) with enlargement, mass-like enlargement was seen in 20 cases (49%) and enlargement with preserved contours in 21 cases (51%). Peripheral rim enhancement presented in 22 cases (52%) on contrast-enhanced CT. Non-enhanced CT scan revealed calcification in 21 cases (50%). As the duration of Addison's disease increased, the presence of calcification and contour preservation increased concomitantly (p<0.001), whereas peripheral rim enhancement and mass-like enlargement decreased concomitantly on CT images (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: CT may be helpful in diagnosing adrenal tuberculosis when clinically suspected, and CT features are correlated to the clinical duration of Addison's disease.

Primary adrenal tuberculosis: role of computed tomography and CT-guided biopsy in diagnosis.

A case of isolated, bilateral, adrenal tuberculosis is presented. A 25-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to lumbar pain, fever, weight loss and anorexia. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated bilateral adrenal enlargement. Laboratory investigations were remarkable for adrenal insufficiency. The Mantoux reaction was positive but there was no evidence of lung or urinary infection. CT-guided biopsy of the left adrenal gland was performed and established the diagnosis of adrenal tuberculosis.

Unilateral active adrenal tuberculosis featuring persistent intermittent fever.

The adrenal gland is one of the organs which tuberculosis infects. In most clinical settings bilateral adrenal tuberculosis has been clarified after adrenal insufficiency is overt. On the contrary, active adrenal tuberculosis is rarely detected during the survey of infectious disease. A 68-year-old man was admitted because of intermittent fever. The fever had continued for the last 3 months. The intermittent fever was accompanied with leukocytosis and elevation of C-reactive protein. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor was 1920 U/ml, and beta2-microglobulin was 4.0 mg/l. Bacterial cultures of blood, sputa, urine, bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid did not show any particular bacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative in culture of sputa, and there was no tuberculin reaction. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol were 18.5 pmol/l and 527.0 nmol/l, respectively. Abdominal CT scan showed right adrenal mass with a size of 28 x 20 mm, which was low density and had a well-encapsulated homogenous appearance. After the adrenalectomy, histology verified active adrenal tuberculosis. The intermittent fever disappeared, and white blood cells and C-reactive protein normalized. These findings indicate an atypical, rare case of unilateral, active adrenal tuberculosis closely linked to intermittent fever, and without any other organ involvement.