Adrenal Infarction Secondary to COVID-19 Infection: Etiology, Pathophysiology, Imaging, Treatment, and Prognosis Introduction
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, clinicians and researchers have become increasingly aware of its far-reaching systemic effects. While the respiratory tract remains the primary site of infection, the coagulation abnormalities and multi-organ involvement have highlighted the virus’s systemic impact. One such complication— adrenal infarction secondary to COVID-19 infection —has been reported in select cases, underscoring the vulnerability of adrenal glands to ischemic damage under hypercoagulable states. This article provides an in-depth, expert-level analysis of the etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis of adrenal infarction associated with COVID-19. It also references a real clinical case (Figures 1–4) and offers an educational quiz for readers. Case Reference and Imaging A 68-year-old woman with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with fever, left-sided chest pain, cough, and dyspnea. Ad...