Adrenal adenomas and adrenal carcinomas in association with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum

Hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (HACR) is associated with a wide variety of extracolonic manifestations. Two cases of neoplasia involving the adrenal gland are reported, one adenoma and one carcinoma. The literature relating these lesions to HACR and other syndromes of malignant and nonmalignant growth disturbance is reviewed. The increasing list of the extracolonic manifestations associated with HACR emphasizes the generalized nature of the growth disorder of this disease. An increased awareness of these lesions is important, as many patients with HACR now live longer by avoiding death from colorectal carcinomas due to the increasing usage of prophylactic colectomy.