Prolonged fever as a presenting symptom in adrenal tumors

Oncology. 1988;45(1):15-7. doi: 10.1159/000226522.

Abstract

Four patients with adrenal tumors in whom prolonged fever was the foremost symptom are presented. Two of the patients had nonfunctional adrenocortical carcinoma, one had a pheochromocytoma without adrenergic hyperactivity, and in the fourth, an aldosteronoma was found. Only in 1 case was the tumor (pheochromocytoma) resectable and this patient became afebrile post surgery. A review of the literature revealed that fever is encountered in 6-10% of cases with adrenal tumors, sometimes as the first manifestation of disease. However, a survey of the large series of fever of unknown origin revealed no mention of adrenal tumors in that group of solid tumors which many cause prolonged fever.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged