CONN-SYNDROME IN A CHILD, CAUSED BY ADRENAL ADENOMA

Hyperaldosteronism owing to aldosterone producing adenoma (Conn syndro me) is a rare but potentially curable form of pediatric hypertension. The authors report on a 5-year-old girl who had symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, and fatigue, and for whom the diagnosis of hyperaldosteron emia was suggested by a low serum potassium level and persistent hyper tension. The diagnosis was confirmed by increased levels of plasma ald osterone and decreased levels of plasma renin. The tumor was localized with ultrasonography and computed tomography, which showed a 2-cm mas s in the left adrenal gland. The left adrenal gland was excised, and p athological assessment showed an adenoma. Only 14 other pediatric case s (<16 years of age) have been reported in the English-language litera ture. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company