Carney's complex of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease and pigmentous and myxomatous lesions.

A complex of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical hyperplasia associated with myxomatous masses and pigmented lesions of the skin was recently described by Carney. Herein, we describe three patients with Carney's complex seen at our institution. Two patients presented with Cushing's syndrome and one patient with atrial myxoma. The diagnosis was revealed in all three because of an awareness of the disease in association with primary adrenocortical hyperplasia. Because Cushing's syndrome and atrial myxomas are life-threatening components of the disease and can occur metachronously, an early diagnosis in combination with the appropriate treatment is mandatory, and follow-up measures should be taken to define the natural course of events in the disease.