Virilizing Tumors of the Adrenal Cortex

FUNCTIONING neoplasms of the adrenal cortex are clinically manifested by virilization, Cushing's syndrome, feminization, or hyperaldosteronism. In the present report, seven patients with virilizing adrenal tumors are described. In one case, virilization was present from birth. This is a unique instance of in utero virilization attributable to a tumor. Other unusual clinical, pathological, and laboratory findings are being reported. Methods The method used for 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) measurements was a modification of that of Callow et al.1The procedure of Allen et al2was used for dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA). Pregnanetriol was measured at the BioScience Laboratories, Los Angeles, by Cox's method.3The 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) were measured by a modification4of the method of Glenn and Nelson.5Aldosterone was estimated in patient 1 by a modification of the procedure of Neher and Wettstein.6Cathecholamines were measured by the method of Jacobs et al,7and vanillyl mandelic acid as described