Primary malignant lymphoma of the adrenal gland diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy: A report of two cases

Two cases of adrenal malignant lymphoma were treated at our hospital. Case 1 was a 68-year-old man whose chief complaint was right flank pain. He was referred to us for treatment of bilateral adrenal tumors which had been detected at another hospital. A diagnosis of non Hodgkin's lymphoma (diffuse large cell type) was confirmed by US-guided needle biopsy. The patient did not respond to cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and died within a week. Case 2 was a 72-year-old woman who visited our hospital complaining of left flank pain. CT scan revealed bilateral bulky masses confined to the adrenal gland. As in Case 1, US-guided needle biopsy revealed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (diffuse large cell type). Despite partial response following CHOP chemotherapy, thrombocytopenia progressed and the patient died after four courses of chemotherapy.