A Case of Adrenocortical Adenoma Causing Subclinical Cushing's Syndrome Mistaken for Liddle's Syndrome / 대한내분비학회지

ABSTRACT

Subclinical Cushing's syndrome is defined as an autonomous cortisol hyperproduction without specific clinical signs of cortisol excess, but detectable biochemically as derangements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with subclinical Cushing's syndrome caused by left adrenocortical adenoma, mistaken for Liddle's syndrome. The patient complained of fatigue. Laboratory findings showed metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, high TTKG (transtubular K concentration gradient), low plasma renin activity, and low serum aldosterone level, that findings implied as Liddle's syndrome. So we performed further study. Hormonal and radiologic studies revealed subclinical Cushing's syndrome with a left adrenal mass. The adrenal mass was resected and pathologically diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma. After the resection of the left adrenal mass, patient's hormonal levels showed normal range.