Ectopic ACTH secretion and hyperaldosteronism as an unusual paraneoplastic syndrome in a patient with metastatic small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer is usually associated with paraneoplastic syndromes due to hormonal secretion, the most frequent, the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. A case of a hyperaldosteronism and ectopic secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone associated with small cell lung cancer is presented. A 59-year-old patient was studied for a constitutional syndrome diagnosing a metastatic small cell lung cancer. In the course of the oncological process, he manifests a clinic of hypertension, hypernatremia and hypokalemia. After a hormonal study he is diagnosed with a paraneoplastic hyperaldosteronism that is controlled with antihypertensives and antialdosteronics. The patient finally died due to liver progression of his tumor disease.