A case of a feminizing adrenocortical tumor associated with Cushing's syndrome in a 29 year old male is presented. The ultrastructural features are compared with adrenal tumors secreting aldosterone, glucocorticoids or androgens. As in adrenal carcinomas, this tumor demonstrates nuclear pleomorphism with enlarged nucleoli and nuclear pseudoinclusions. The cytoplasmic organelles show some parallels between feminizing and androgensecreting adrenal tumors. Different types of mitochondria occur with varying amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Numerous microbodies are present.
Histological and ultrastructural signs indicating probable malignancy are discussed and it is noted that most of the feminizing adrenal tumors are carcinomata. Neither local recurrence nor distant metastases have yet been detected in this case, two years after excision of the tumor.
Key words Adrenal glands - Adrenal adenoma - Adrenal ultrastructure - Feminizing syndrome
With support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft