Isolated bilateral adrenal metastasis from renal cancer. Case report

The authors report an uncommon case of bilateral synchronous adrenal gland metastases from left renal cell carcinoma. The diagnosis was established by abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography. The surgical approach initially consisted of left radical nephrectomy and ipsilateral adrenalectomy. Histologically, the tumor of the left adrenal gland was identical to the left renal cell carcinoma. Subsequent contralateral adrenalectomy showed an adrenal metastasis identical to the left renal cell carcinoma. Patient follow-up was good with no recurrence of the disease after one year. This is an uncommon case for renal cancer. The treatment and prognosis are discussed.     

Should ipsilateral adrenalectomy be performed systematically during radical nephrectomy for renal cancer?

The authors present a retrospective study of 46 patients with renal cell carcinoma treated by radical nephrectomy including ipsilateral adrenalectomy. CT scan showed a normal adrenal gland in all patients. Histology revealed the absence of adrenal metastasis in all patients. Ipsilateral adrenalectomy is not systematically required in radical nephrectomy.     

Pheochromocytoma. Report of 10 cases

We report 10 cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma seen over a period 15-years. A female predominance was noted (8 women/2 men). Patients were aged between 16-46 years with a mean of 34 years. Clinical manifestations consisted of hypertension observed in all cases, with vasomotor symptoms (90%). Time to consultation was prolonged (mean: 23 months). CT scan performed in 7 cases showed pheochromocytoma in all cases, located on the right side in 6 cases, while one pheochromocytoma was located in Zukerkandal organ. All patients were operated via anterior approach and adrenalectomy was performed. A favourable course was observed in 90% of cases with normalisation blood pressure. One death was noted. Histological examination showed no malignancy in all cases.     

Isolated testicular tuberculosis: report of a case

In this study, a case has been reported involving a 66-year old male who was admitted for scrotal pain on the right side with possible testicular involvement, but with no associated urinary disorder. At physical examination, the right testicle was found to have increased in volume: this was further confirmed by ultrasonography, but the findings were insufficient to exclude the hypothesis of testicular cancer. An exploratory orchidectomy by upper inguinal route was therefore carried out, and histopathological examination showed the destruction of testicular tissue by several granulomas, and caseous necrosis with giant cells. Antibacterial chemotherapy was administered after an i.v. urography found no evidence of abnormality or urinary disorder, thereby eliminating an active site of genitourinary tuberculosis. This case shows the importance of considering testicular tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of testicular enlargement in a region where this disease is endemic, despite the absence of systemic pulmonary and urinary signs of tuberculosis.     

Pleurisy and sarcoidosis. Apropos of 2 cases

Pleural involvement is uncommon in sarcoidosis, observed in less than 5% of cases. We report two cases. Both patients were women. In the first patient, signs of sarcoidosis included pleural, mediastinal node, and multiple joint involvement as well as nasal obstruction, sicca syndrome and subcutaneous nodules. Diagnosis was established on pleural and nasal biopsies. For the second patient, in addition to the pleural involvement, there was interstitial lung disease and cervical, epitrochleal and deep abdominal node enlargement. Diagnosis was established from serial bronchial biopsies, pleural biopsies and peripheral node biopsies. Pleurisy is generally observed in cases with extensive lung involvement with extrathoracic localizations. Blind pleural biopsy is not very sensitive for diagnosis of sarcoidosic pleurisy. Light yellow exsudative fluid with a high lymphocyte count in a patient with a radiological and clinical presentation suggestive of tuberculosis, which must be ruled out, is a characteristic feature.