Assessment of Adrenal cortical carcinoma: Video, Anatomy & Definition | Osmosis

Question

A 44-year-old man comes to his physician complaining of muscle weakness and headaches for the past 2 months. He is a construction worker and has found it difficult to lift large objects during the job. The patient has no significant past medical history, but he states his blood pressure was “high” at a recent health fair. Temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 82/min, and blood pressure is 165/92 mm Hg. Physical examination reveals no abnormalities. Laboratory testing reveals the following findings:

Laboratory Value	Result
Serum
Sodium	147 mEq/L
Potassium	2.9 mEq/L
Chloride	105 mEq/L
HCO3-	32 mEq/L
Creatinine	0.6 mg/dL
Glucose	94 mg/dL

Serum renin levels are decreased. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s condition?

Accepted Answer

Tumor in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex

Answer

Tumor in the medulla of the adrenal gland

Answer

Atherosclerosis of the renal artery

Answer

Tumor in the anterior pituitary

Answer

Tumor in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex

Questions or feedback?

Adrenal cortical carcinoma

Pathology

Endocrine system