Endogenous Hypercortisolism in a Patient With Addison’s Disease: An Unusual Case of Adrenal Cortical Adenoma
March 2026
in “
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
”
TLDR Adrenal tumors should be considered in Addison's disease if unusual results appear, with surgery as a solution.
This case report details a rare instance of ACTH-independent endogenous hypercortisolism in a 64-year-old woman with long-standing Addison’s disease. Despite tapering off hydrocortisone, the patient exhibited symptoms of hypercortisolism, leading to the discovery of a left adrenal mass. A CT scan suggested an adrenal myelolipoma, and subsequent tests confirmed Cushing syndrome. The patient underwent successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy, which revealed an adrenal cortical adenoma. Post-surgery, hydrocortisone therapy was resumed, and the patient was discharged in stable condition. The study concludes that functional adrenal tumors should be considered in Addison’s disease when atypical biochemical results are observed, with adrenalectomy providing definitive management for ACTH-independent hypercortisolism.
