Laparoscopic adrenalectomy of an adrenal adenoma with myelolipoma relieves severe hypertension in a 16-year-old patient

A unique case of synchronous functional adrenocortical adenoma and myelolipoma within the ectopic adrenal cortex in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

We report a unique case of synchronous functional adrenocortical adenoma and an incidental myelolipoma within ectopic cortical adrenal tissue located in the renal hilum in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and review the association between adrenal gland disorders and myelolipomas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a simultaneous occurrence of these three conditions. A 17-month-old child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome was diagnosed with a left adrenal tumor during complementary radiologic studies. Biochemical investigation before surgery showed elevated blood levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone hormones. The patient underwent a left adrenalectomy with ipsilateral renal hilar and intercaval-aortic lymph node dissection. Pathology findings revealed a left adrenocortical adenoma and an incidental myelolipoma growing within ectopic cortical adrenal tissue in the renal hilum. The patient is doing well and does not have any current health issues. Patients with adrenal cortex disorders, such as hyperplasias and neoplasms, particularly when associated with hormonal imbalances, may have an increased risk of developing myelolipomas. Whether Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome may, by itself, contribute to simultaneous occurrence of adrenocortical adenomas and myelolipomas remains to be clarified.

Adrenal myelolipoma within myxoid cortical adenoma associated with Conn's syndrome

The coexistence of myelolipoma within adrenal cortical adenoma is extremely rare, for both tumors present usually as separate entities. There are only 16 such cases reported worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, the case we reported here is the first one of myxoid adrenal cortical adenoma associated with myelolipoma reported. A 32-year-old Chinese woman with 4-year history of hypertension was presented in our study. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed a large heterogeneously-enhancing mass (4.5 cm in diameter) in the left suprarenal region. Clinical history and laboratory results suggest a metabolic disorder as Conn's syndrome. The patient underwent a left adrenalectomy, and a histopathological study confirmed the mass to be a myxoid adrenal cortical adenoma containing myelolipoma. The patient was postoperatively well and discharged uneventfully. In the present case report, we also discuss the etiology of simultaneous myelolipoma and adrenal adenoma associated with Conn's syndrome, and the methods of the diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Adrenal cystic lesions: a clinicopathological analysis of 25 cases with proposed histogenesis and review of the literature

Adrenal cystic lesions are uncommon and we analyzed clinical and pathologic features of 25 such cases from a single institute over 23 years. There were 16 pseudocysts, eight endothelial cysts, and one epithelial cyst. Seven of eight endothelial cysts were confirmed to be lymphangiomatous by D2-40 immunostaining. We suggest that pseudocysts and endothelial cysts may have different histogenesis. The proposed mesothelial origin of adrenal epithelial cyst cannot be confirmed in our example. Seven adrenal pseudocysts were associated with tumor, including two pheochromocytomas, one neuroblastoma, one adrenal cortical carcinoma, one adrenal cortical adenoma, one myelolipoma, and one schwannoma. The distinction of true cystic lesion from cystic neoplasm is important and requires thorough sampling of the specimens.