[2 surgically treated cases of adrenocortical carcinoma producing steroid hormones without endocrinological symptoms--case report and a review of cases in the Japanese literature].

We have experienced two male cases of an adrenocortical carcinoma that have produced steroid hormones without endocrinological symptoms. Both men were admitted to hospital because of an abdominal pain and left hypochondral tumors. In each case, an abdominal CT, an ultrasonogram and an angiogram demonstrated a left adrenal tumor, and levels of blood dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, etiocholanolone, pregnenolone sulfate and urine 17 KS were elevated. The tumors were resected and the histology revealed that they were adrenocortical carcinomas. Postoperatively, the levels of their urine hormones returned to normal values, though in one man recurrence occurred a year later. Only 8 cases of an adrenocortical carcinoma that has produced steroids without specific endocrinological symptoms have been reported in Japan, and we also report on two cases herein.