Primary Unilateral Adrenal Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Remission by Chemotherapy

Primary malignant lymphomas originating in the adrenal gland, particularly of T-cell origin, are extremely rare. Here we present the primary unilateral adrenal anaplastic large cell lymphoma case. A 64-year-old Japanese male initially presented with fatigue and appetite loss. Computed tomography imaging revealed a unilateral adrenal mass with multiorgan invasion, posing challenges in differentiation from adrenal carcinoma. A biopsy from the metastatic site in the right lateral vastus muscle was obtained, and immunohistochemistry revealed that tumor cells were positive for CD30 and CD56 and negative for CD3, CD15, CD20, CD43, perforin, granzyme B, epithelial membrane antigen, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with primary unilateral adrenal anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Although he achieved complete response to chemotherapy, he died 4 months after complete response due to cholecystitis and lymphoma recurrence.