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Clinics and Practice
  • Clinics and Practice is published by MDPI from Volume 11 Issue 1 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher in Open Access under a CC-BY (or CC-BY-NC-ND) licence, and they are hosted by MDPI on mdpi.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with PAGEPress.
  • Case Report
  • Open Access

13 November 2012

Occult Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Secretion: Diagnostic Dilemma and Infective Consequence

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Njideka Momah, Thomas Koroscil Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA
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Abstract

A 42-year-old male presented with polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss. His initial physical exam showed a paucity of cushingoid features. Diagnostic work up was consistent with an ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. Imaging studies showed a small anterior mediastinal lesion without additional metabolically active tumors. Fine needle aspiration was consistent with a thymic neuroendocrine tumor. Following radical thymectomy, plasma ACTH and cortisol levels remained elevated. Despite medical management, he died within 2 months of presentation of disseminated intracranial aspergillosis. This case underscores the diagnostic dilemma of occult ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors and the fatal consequence of opportunistic infections.

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