ANGIOTROPIC LARGE-CELL LYMPHOMA PRESENTING AS PRIMARY ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Angiotropic large cell lymphoma is reported in two patients who develo ped severe metabolic acidosis and unexplained hypotension before death . In addition to the usual multiorgan involvement of the disease, the adrenal glands of both patients were symmetrically enlarged. Histologi cally, the cortical vessels were engorged and filled with neoplastic l ymphoid cells of B-cell lineage, whereas the parenchymal cells were co mpressed and atrophic. Angiotrophic large cell lymphoma seems to be a distinct and unrecognized cause of primary adrenal insufficiency, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal hormone de ficiency. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company.