Published online Jul 26, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i14.1844
Peer-review started: March 19, 2019
First decision: April 18, 2019
Revised: April 30, 2019
Accepted: May 11, 2019
Article in press: May 11, 2019
Published online: July 26, 2019
Metastases to adrenal glands originate principally from lung, breast, or gastrointestinal cancers, followed by malignant melanoma and thyroid neoplasms. We present an unusual case of uterine cancer metastasizing to the adrenal glands with a review of the English literature on the management of this rare disease.
A 53-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of endometrial cancer (grade 2; International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics III A) was hospitalized in November 2017 for a left adrenal mass found on a follow-up computed tomography scan 3 years after her gynecological surgery. Laboratory test results were normal. A laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no chemotherapy was administered. The pathological report confirmed an adrenal endometrioid metastasis. At 36 mo of follow-up, the patient is alive and well, with no evidence of recurrent disease. A literature review identified only 11 previously-published cases of adrenal metastases from uterine cancer.
Adrenal metastasis from uterine cancer is very rare. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be an effective treatment in selected cases of localized adrenal metastasis.
Core tip: Isolated adrenal metastasis from endometrial cancer is uncommon but should be suspected in patients with history of gynecological cancer. We report a case of large, metachronous adrenal metastasis from endometrial cancer successfully treated with laparoscopic resection. Mini-invasive surgery is safe and feasible with good oncological results also for metastatic lesions of adrenal gland.