RESUMO
A 74-year-old housewife was admitted to the hospital with complaints of high fever and general fatigue. The physical examinations on admission showed no particular findings except for mild hepatomegaly, but laboratory findings showed severe liver dysfunction, active inflammation and negative tuberculine test. On the 4th day, she suddenly complained of severe respiratory distress. A chest X-ray film demonstrated surprising changes in comparison with that taken on admission. On suspicion of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with military tuberculosis (Miliary TB), administration of Methylpredonisolone (1000 mg a day for 3 days) in addition to antituberculous drugs was immediately started. With this therapy she was recovered from such ill condition, but the general exhaustion and slight fever continued. We suspected that her condition might be due to adrenocortical involvement of Miliary TB and hormonal examinations were performed. Unexpectedly, Cushing's syndrome was suspected on the basis of the following; high level of plasma cortisol without normal daily variation, normal ACTH level, an absent response to the Dexamethasone suppression test. Computed tomography revealed left side adrenal mass. During these examinations, renal dysfunction probably due to Miliary TB grew gradually worse and she died of renal failure on the 56th day. Necropsy revealed disseminated tuberculosis involving the lungs and the liver, but the adrenal glands were not examined.