A Case of Long-term Survival after Curative Resection for Synchronous Solitary Adrenal Metastasis from Rectal Cancer

Clinically curable adrenal metastasis is rare. We report a case of synchronous solitary adrenal metastasis from rectal cancer in a 51-year-old man who underwent curative resection. A right adrenal mass was found by ultrasonography during his routine physical examination and this was confirmed by computed tomography (CT). His serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was found elevated, and colonoscopy revealed a rectal tumor located 10cm from anal verge. A simultaneous laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and anterior resection for rectal carcinoma was performed. Histopathological examination revealed well-differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma with adrenal metastasis. The patient is still alive and free from disease 6 years after the surgery. A review in the literature showed that synchronous solitary adrenal metastasis from colorectal carcinoma is very rare. Surgical resection and for selected patients, laparoscopic procedure may provide survival benefit and potential surgical cure for a solitary metastasis.