Adrenal metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma with unusual sites of lymph node metastasis and concomitant renal cell carcinoma: a case report

A 58-year-old male presented to a clinic with general weakness. Right adrenal tumor was found by computed tomography and he was referred to our hospital. Imaging studies revealed right adrenal tumor (8 cm) with marked swelling of surrounding lymph nodes and synchronous left renal tumor (2 cm) that was weakly enhanced by contrast media. Needle biopsy of the left kidney proved to be clear cell type renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the preoperative diagnosis was left RCC and right primary adrenal cancer with lymph node metastasis. We performed right adrenalectomy, lymph node dissection and left radical nephrectomy. Pathological findings of right adrenal tumor and lymph nodes were both metastatic adenocarcinoma, which was not consistent with RCC or adrenal-derived carcinoma. Then, we extensively reviewed preoperative radiological examinations and found a small lesion in the left upper lung. This lesion was attached to the mediastinal shadow and there was no obvious lymph node swelling around this lesion. According to pathological findings and an elevation of carcinoembryogenic antigen, the adrenal lesion was diagnosed as adrenal metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma.