Long-term Survival after Surgical Treatment of Metachronous Bilateral Adrenal Metastases of Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Background

Adrenal glands are one of the most common sites of spread of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In some necropsy series, approximately one-third of patients have been found to have metastases in the adrenal glands [1]. Although bilateral metastases of the adrenal glands, including both synchronous and metachronous lesions, are not uncommon, this condition is usually associated with diffuse systemic spread. Therefore, surgical treatment for bilateral adrenal metastases is quite rare.

We herein report a case of long-term survival after surgical treatment for metachronous bilateral adrenal metastases of NSCLC.

Case Report

A 70-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to chest X-ray shadow. His chest X-ray showed a consolidated area in the apex of the right lung. Chest CT revealed a peripheral mass measuring 24×22 mm in the right upper lobe with multiple mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed using a trans-bronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and the clinical stage was determined to be T2aN2M0, stageIIIA. The patient received 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) postoperatively. After chemotherapy, the patient was reevaluated and CT showed a partial response of the carcinoma. Therefore, in August 2004, right upper lobectomy was performed.

The postoperative pathological stage was downgraded to T1bN0M0, stage IA. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery with tegafur (UFT 400 mg/body/day) orally for 4 months. However, we discontinued the UFT treatment due to severe appetite loss, a known adverse effect of UFT. In April 2008, 3 years and 8 months later after surgery, the serum tumor marker CEA level was significantly elevated (7.0 ng/ml). A CT scan demonstrated a nodule in the right adrenal gland measuring 2×1.5 cm in size (Figure 1A). In addition, fluorodeoxyglucose/positron emission tomography (FDG/PET) revealed a moderate uptake in the nodule, with a maximum SUV of 6.7, which was suggestive of metastasis of the lung malignancy (Figure 1B). Since there were no other signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis, right adrenalectomy was performed. A pathological examination confirmed metastasis of the lung adenocarcinoma. After undergoing 4 courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) postoperatively, the patient received regular follow-up with planned CT imaging. In April 2009, 1 year after the right adrenalectomy, the serum tumor marker CEA level was again evaluated (10.9 ng/ml), and an abdominal CT scan showed a mass in the left adrenal gland measuring 2.5×1.6 cm in size (Figure 2A). In addition, FDG/PET revealed a moderate uptake in the nodule, with a maximum SUV of 6.0 (Figure 2B). Although there were no other signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis on radiological examinations, the patient received 2 courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) due to the risk of adrenal insufficiency. However, the adrenal lesion was found to have enlarged on follow-up CT, with an elevated CEA level (33.0 ng/ml); therefore, left adrenalectomy was performed. The patient had an uneventful recovery under steroid replacement therapy. At follow-up 3 years 6 months after bilateral adrenalectomy, he was found to be well, with no evidence of recurrence.

Discussion

Case reports and limited retrospective studies suggest that adrenalectomy is recommended for isolated adrenal metastasis of NSCLC when the primary lesion is resected or resectable [2,3], although the management of isolated adrenal metastases of NSCLC continues to be debated. However, few cases of surgical treatment of bilateral adrenal metastases have been previously reported, perhaps due to primary adrenal insufficiency after bilateral adrenalectomy and/or the coexistence of multiple synchronous metastases at other sites. After performing a Medline search for articles in the English literature, we found only a few reports of bilateral adrenal metastases [4–6].

In the present case, we administrated chemotherapy for the left adrenal metastasis due to the risk of adrenal insufficiency, because right adrenalectomy had been previously performed. However, we subsequently performed left adrenalectomy due to the patient’s poor response to chemotherapy, without widespread dissemination or no nodal disease at resection. He is currently disease-free under steroid replacement therapy at 7 years after bilateral adrenalectomy.

According to Urschel et al. [4] and Karolyi. [7], adrenal metastases for NSCLC usually exhibit hematogenous spread of the disease to other sites. Therefore, most cases of lung cancer metastasizing to the adrenal glands are incurable. However, due to lymphatic connections between the lungs and retroperitoneum, some adrenal metastases can develop from the lymphatic spread of lung cancer. In cases involving lymphatic spread to the adrenal glands, this type of adrenal metastasis is expected to have a more favorable response to aggressive treatment than other types.

Conclusions

Therefore, selected patients with solitary adrenal metastases of NSCLC can benefit from an aggressive treatment approach that includes bilateral adrenalectomy, although more studies are needed to investigate the treatment of synchronous solitary metastases of the bilateral adrenal glands [8].

This case report suggests that surgical resection can provide long-term survival without major complications.