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Park and Park: Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency Associated with Megestrol Acetate in a Patient with Lung Cancer
Case Report
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2009; 67(1): 47-51.

Published online: 31 July 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2009.67.1.47

Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency Associated with Megestrol Acetate in a Patient with Lung Cancer

Ji Chan Park, M.D., Suk Young Park, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Suk Young Park, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, 520-2, Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-723, Korea. Phone: 82-42-220-9516, Fax: 82-42-255-8663, sypark1011@hotmail.com

Received 14 June 2009       Accepted 7 July 2009

Copyright©2009. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Loss of appetite is an important factor in the quality of life for advanced cancer patients. Megestrol acetate is used to stimulate appetite, but it can cause suppression of the pituitary adrenal axis due to the affinity of the glucocorticoid receptor. Adrenal insufficiency is a life threatening disorder if left, untreated, but the initial clinical symptoms of the patients are vague. Awareness of the glucocorticoid-like activity of megestrol acetate and its side effects are important for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. We present a case of secondary adrenal insufficiency associated with megestrol acetate in a patient with lung cancer.

Keywords: Adrenal insufficiency, Lung neoplasms, Megestrol acetate

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Abdominal CT shows a 2.5 cm sized speculated enhancing mass in right low lobe.
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Figure 2
PET/CT shows a hypermetabolic area in right lung (SUV=8.2).
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Figure 3
In T1 (A) and T2 (B) weighted sagittal MRI of brain, normal pituitary gland is seen.
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References

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