Adrenal mass of unusual etiology: Ewing sarcoma in a young man

Abstract

Ewing sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor belong to the Ewing sarcoma (ES) family of tumors originating from a primitive neural tube. We report a 31-year-old man who was admitted to the urology clinic with complaints of fever, nausea, and dysuria. A right-sided adrenal mass was detected during ultrasonography. The lesion was then evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging, which showed areas of necrosis amid heterogeneous solid areas. Whole body scan with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose integrated with computed tomography and bone scan studies showed pulmonary and osseous metastatic foci. The mass and right kidney were removed by an open approach. An immunohistochemical and molecular workup enabled the diagnosis of ES. The patient also underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patient remained in fairly good health during the 18-month follow-up period, but showed progression of all metastatic foci and died 26 months after treatment. In conclusion, adrenal ES should be included in the differential diagnosis of nonfunctional adrenal lesions despite its rare occurrence.

Keywords

• Adrenal gland
• Ewing sarcoma
• Neuroectodermal tumor