Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma
Crooke cell adenomas (CCA) are a rare and aggressive subtype of corticotrope tumors, with a prevalence of less than 1% pituitary adenomas, commonly manifest as Cushing’s syndrome. We present the case of a 62-year-old male with progressive lower limb oedema, hypertension, and severe refractory hypoka...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1468727/full |
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| author | Laura Kattah Laura Kattah Lizeth Bustamante Daniela Sanabria Daniela Sanabria Johana Salazar |
| author_facet | Laura Kattah Laura Kattah Lizeth Bustamante Daniela Sanabria Daniela Sanabria Johana Salazar |
| author_sort | Laura Kattah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crooke cell adenomas (CCA) are a rare and aggressive subtype of corticotrope tumors, with a prevalence of less than 1% pituitary adenomas, commonly manifest as Cushing’s syndrome. We present the case of a 62-year-old male with progressive lower limb oedema, hypertension, and severe refractory hypokalemia. In this case, severe hypercortisolism was identified with the presence of a pituitary microadenoma of 9×6 mm and adrenal bilateral hyperplasia. Ectopic hypercortisolism was discarded after further evaluation. The patient was taken to a transsphenoidal endoscopic resection with complete resolution of symptoms. Histopathological and microscopic studies revealed findings consistent with Crooke cells compatible with Crooke cell adenoma. This tumor subtype exhibits a heterogeneous clinical presentation and is infrequently reported in the literature. Consequently, it represents an unpredictable clinical entity with a variable medical course. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dadee683af76462c97a3c1c532d62cfd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-dadee683af76462c97a3c1c532d62cfd2025-08-20T03:24:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-06-011210.3389/fmed.2025.14687271468727Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenomaLaura Kattah0Laura Kattah1Lizeth Bustamante2Daniela Sanabria3Daniela Sanabria4Johana Salazar5Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, ColombiaCrooke cell adenomas (CCA) are a rare and aggressive subtype of corticotrope tumors, with a prevalence of less than 1% pituitary adenomas, commonly manifest as Cushing’s syndrome. We present the case of a 62-year-old male with progressive lower limb oedema, hypertension, and severe refractory hypokalemia. In this case, severe hypercortisolism was identified with the presence of a pituitary microadenoma of 9×6 mm and adrenal bilateral hyperplasia. Ectopic hypercortisolism was discarded after further evaluation. The patient was taken to a transsphenoidal endoscopic resection with complete resolution of symptoms. Histopathological and microscopic studies revealed findings consistent with Crooke cells compatible with Crooke cell adenoma. This tumor subtype exhibits a heterogeneous clinical presentation and is infrequently reported in the literature. Consequently, it represents an unpredictable clinical entity with a variable medical course.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1468727/fullpituitary adenomaACTHCrooke cell adenomaCushing diseasehypokalemia |
| spellingShingle | Laura Kattah Laura Kattah Lizeth Bustamante Daniela Sanabria Daniela Sanabria Johana Salazar Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma Frontiers in Medicine pituitary adenoma ACTH Crooke cell adenoma Cushing disease hypokalemia |
| title | Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma |
| title_full | Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma |
| title_fullStr | Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma |
| title_short | Case Report: Refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of Crooke’s cell adenoma |
| title_sort | case report refractory hypokalemia as a clinical manifestation of crooke s cell adenoma |
| topic | pituitary adenoma ACTH Crooke cell adenoma Cushing disease hypokalemia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1468727/full |
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