Adrenocortical Carcinoma With 2 Distinct Syndromes From Secretion of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 and Steroid Hormones
Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia as a result of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-2 secretion is rare. A 59-year-old woman was referred with postmenopausal bleeding due to endometrial hyperplasia. Serum testosterone, estradiol, and adrenal androgens were elevated with suppressed gonadotropin concentrations. Cross-sectional imaging demonstrated a large left adrenal mass. The patient subsequently presented acutely with hypoglycemia. During a supervised fast, symptomatic hypoglycemia occurred within 5 hours. Serum samples drawn prior to hypoglycemia correction revealed an elevated IGF-2:IGF-1 ratio of 60.7 (normal <10) with low paired C-peptide and insulin, consistent with an IGF-2-secreting tumor. Hypoglycemia was managed with low-glycemic index foods and radical surgical excision was undertaken. Postoperative pathology revealed an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC); Ki67 12%; IGF-2 positive immunostaining. This case demonstrates a rare IGF-2-secreting ACC causing clinically significant hypoglycemia with positive immunostaining for IGF-2 in addition to biochemical hyperandrogenism resulting in endometrial hyperplasia and postmenopausal bleeding. This case encompasses 2 unique syndromes from the cosecretion of both peptide factor and steroid hormone.
Authors
- Adrian O’Sullivan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4556-0966)
- Eibhlin Lonergan
- Keizo Kanazaki
- Domhnall O’Halloran
- Miwa Morita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0749-5988)
- Lok Yi Joyce Tan
Institutions
- Shimane University (JP)
- University College Cork (IE)
- Cork University Hospital (IE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JCEM Case Reports
- Published
- 2025-04-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1210/jcemcr/luaf078
- Primary Topic
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Shimane University