endocrine and metabolic disorders
Adrenal Virilism
Introduction
Adrenal virilism is a syndrome in which excessive adrenal androgens cause virilization. Diagnosis is clinical and confirmed by elevated androgen levels; determining the cause may involve adrenal imaging. Treatment depends on the cause. (See also Overview of Adrenal Function .) Adrenal virilism is caused by Androgen-secreting adrenal tumors Adrenal hyperplasia hypersecretion, Cushing Syndrome results, with suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion and atrophy of the contralateral adrenal as well as hypertension. Adrenal tumors that secrete androgens cause virilization. Adrenal hyperplasia is usually congenital; delayed virilizing adrenal hyperplasia is a variant of Overview of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia . Both are caused by a defect in hydroxylation of cortisol precursors, most commonly 