Adrenal myelolipomas show nonrandom X-chromosome inactivation in hematopoietic elements and fat: support for a clonal origin of myelolipomas

Clinical management of extra‑adrenal myelolipoma in the central nervous system: A case report

Extra-adrenal myelolipoma (EAM) is a rare benign tumor composed of mature adipose and hematopoietic tissues. Its etiology remains to be elucidated and there are few case reports describing the clinical features and treatment of EAMs in the central nervous system. The present study presented our experience and practice in the clinical management of a case of EAM in the right frontal region. A 56-year-old woman was found to have a space-occupying right frontal lesion on computed tomography (CT) of the head. Unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion of ~1.5x1.2 cm. Enhanced whole abdominal CT showed a right presacral mass, 2.0 cm in diameter, with clear margins. The postoperative histopathological findings showed mainly mature adipose tissue mixed with extramedullary hematopoietic components. This confirmed the diagnosis of a (bone) marrow lipoma. Myelolipoma of the central nervous system is extremely rare. to the best of the authors' knowledge, only two cases of intracranial myelolipoma have been reported, and the present study introduced the first case in a Chinese patient reported in English. However, when CT shows high density and MRI shows mixed density in the tumor area even without enhancement, the possibility of myelolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Stealthy Encroachment: Unraveling an Encounter With Renal Myelolipoma

Myelolipoma of the kidney is an exceedingly unusual benign tumor of hematological components mixed with mature adipose tissue. We present a case of a 59-year-old male who presented with left flank pain and was found to have an atrophic left kidney on imaging studies. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a small and shrunken left kidney with an extrarenal pelvis. A diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) scan results showed a total glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 45.6 ml/min with a non-functional left kidney. The patient underwent a left nephrectomy, and a histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis and highlighted the distinctive morphological features of this rare entity. Postoperatively, the patient experienced a complete resolution of symptoms. This case underscores the importance of considering myelolipoma in the differential diagnosis of renal masses and highlights the successful management of symptomatic cases through surgical intervention. Awareness of this rare tumor is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Further studies are needed to elucidate the natural history and optimal treatment strategies for renal myelolipomas.

Bilateral adrenal giant medullary lipoma combined with disorders of sex development: a rare case report and literature review

Bilateral adrenal myelolipoma is rare in clinics and patients with disorders of sex development (DSDs). One case was reported in our center. A 45-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital after discovering a left abdominal mass for more than a year and worsening abdominal pain for 18 days. An imaging examination showed bilateral adrenal masses. Physical examination showed clitoris hypertrophy with patelliform changes, thick and dense pubic hair, normal development of bilateral labia majora without labia minora, and urethral opening. After the relevant preoperative examinations, bilateral adrenal mass resection was performed under general anesthesia. The postoperative pathology confirmed adrenal myelolipoma. The incision healed well without recurrence over 10 years after the operation. Her enlarged clitoris decreased in size. This case report has a detailed diagnosis and treatment process and sufficient examination results. It can provide a reference for diagnosing and treating patients with bilateral adrenal myelolipoma and DSD and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

A case of adrenal myelolipoma complicated with Prader-Willi syndrome

Introduction

Prader-Willi syndrome is a congenital disorder that occurs in one in 10 000-30 000 children and is characterized by obesity, short stature, and intellectual disability.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old male patient with Prader-Willi syndrome presented with an enlarged adrenal tumor. Computed tomography detected a well-defined mass. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an increased signal intensity predominantly in fatty areas, suggesting adrenal myelolipoma. Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient developed mild pulmonary atelectasis, myelolipoma was confirmed by histopathology, and there was no recurrence at approximately 2 years postoperatively.

Conclusion

This is the first report of Prader-Willi syndrome complicated with adrenal myelolipoma, which was removed laparoscopically.

Cystic lesions of the adrenal gland

Cystic lesions of the adrenal glands are relatively uncommon and most of them are clinically silent. Though rarely associated with malignant changes, they may carry clinically detrimental consequences if misdiagnosed. Cystic adrenal lesions exhibit a broad histomorphological spectrum, ranging from pseudocysts, endothelial cysts, epithelial cysts and parasitic cysts. Here we present the case of a young woman with left-sided abdominal pain and contrast-enhanced CT showing a 10.4×7.7×7.8 cm fluid-filled left suprarenal lesion. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with cyst excision, and the histopathological examination of the specimen revealed a pseudocyst of the left adrenal gland. Despite being rare, usually benign and asymptomatic, the diagnosis and management of these cystic lesions of the adrenal glands are often unclear. Any functional lesion, potentially malignant lesion or lesion more than 5 cm deserves surgical management, whereas others can be managed conservatively.

A rare case of myelolipoma compressing a second-transplanted kidney: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Myelolipoma is a rare benign neoplasm composed of mature elements of fatty and hematopoietic tissues. In addition to its low incidence, myelolipoma in kidney transplant patients is much rarer, with only a few cases of this entity reported in the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 37-year-old diabetic patient was admitted to the hospital due to severe left abdominal pain and elevated creatinine levels of 4.4 mg/dl. The patient has a history of two kidney transplantations. The patient was investigated with different modalities of imaging, which revealed a mass adjacent to the renal graft that was suspicious for malignancy. Histopathological assessment of the resected lesion showed findings consistent with myelolipoma.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Although it's uncommon, myelolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any renal or extra-renal lesion in kidney transplant patients, including those with a history of graft rejection as in our patient.

CONCLUSION

In light of the rarity of the lesions, we affirm the significance of the clinicians' reporting such cases that they encounter in order to better understand the disease's biological behavior.

Meta-analysis of reported presacral myelolipomas, including a report of a new case

BACKGROUND

Presacral myelolipomas form a rare disease and are often found incidentally in imaging diagnostics.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this study, we report the case of a 71-year-old caucasian female with an incidental finding of a retroperitoneal tumor on magnetic resonance imaging scan. This report aimed at presenting the clinical course of this patient with emphasis on analysis of pathological, clinical, and epidemiological features in a meta-analysis of reported cases.

CONCLUSION

Presacral myelolipomas are rare and its etiology remains unclear. Surgical resection is indicated in symptomatic lesions and lesions > 4 cm. More clinical and pathological research on this rare entity is warranted.

Intramedullary/intraosseous myelolipoma in a patient with pathologic fracture

Background

Intramedullary lipomatous tumors are rare and mostly reported in the metaphysis of the femur, tibia, and fibula. Myelolipomas are very rare tumors composed of adipose tissue and hematopoietic cells commonly reported in adrenal gland. We report the first reported case of intraosseous myelolipoma with a pathologic fracture in a young woman.

Case presentation

Patient is a young woman who carried a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and hyperparathyroidism. Radiologic studies were done after the patient reported right lower leg pain lasting for a month. Radiologic examination showed a large osteolytic lesions with pathologic fracture affecting the medial aspect of the proximal tibia with extensive soft tissue calcification. The initial clinical and radiographic suspicion was brown tumor secondary to the hyperparathyroidism. Curettage of the lesion yielded large fragments of mature adipose tissue punctuated by a variable amount of mature hematopoietic cells. The histopathologic features were suggestive of myelolipoma. The overall radiographic and histopathologic features supported a diagnosis of myelolipoma. The diagnosis of intraosseous myelolipoma can be challenging in small samples such as core biopsies.

Conclusions

The differential diagnoses of intraosseous myelolipoma include normal bone marrow, intramedullary hematopoiesis, and other benign lesions. The gold standard diagnosis is histopathologic examination. However, clinical and radiographic features have important roles in the diagnosis of this rare lesion. Due to the rarity of this tumor and lack of formal guidelines for management, the case-to-case basis treatment is recommended.

A Rare Case of Hemorrhagic Giant Adrenal Myelolipoma: Radiographic and Pathologic Correlation

Myelolipomas are rare benign tumors made up of adipose and hematopoietic tissue that commonly occur in the adrenal glands unilaterally. Spontaneous hemorrhage occurs in < 5% of these tumors, and often present as large masses. A 50-year-old male presented with right flank pain that had been growing increasingly worse over a two-week period. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) revealed a large suprarenal 15-cm mass exerting mass effect on the kidney and liver along with possible hemorrhage. T1 fat saturated and T2 non-fat saturated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of a myelolipoma with hemorrhage. The patient was treated with surgical resection of the mass and the follow-up pathology report confirmed a giant hemorrhagic adrenal myelolipoma. Spontaneous hemorrhage of a large myelolipoma measuring 15 cm is a rare entity and the correct imaging needs to be done in order to carry out the appropriate treatment.

Adrenocortical adenoma with myelolipomatous metaplasia: a potential diagnostic pitfall: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Adrenal incidentalomas are often found during investigation for another tumor or unrelated problems. Except for adrenal myelolipoma (second most common primary adrenal incidentaloma following adrenocortical adenomas), adrenal lipomatous tumors are uncommon generally and are often described as case reports in the literature. Since the amount of fat is variable, without the help of advanced imaging techniques, some adrenal lipomatous tumors may be misdiagnosed before pathologic examination. Herein, we report a case of adrenal adenoma with myelolipomatous metaplasia that was excised as a periceliac mass in the setting of recurrent pancreatic cyst.

Case report

A 45-year-old Iranian woman with hypertension and end-stage renal disease presented with recurrence of a pancreatic cyst (previous pathologic report was mucinous cyst adenoma). During exploratory laparotomy, the mentioned pancreatic cyst was tightly attached to the stomach and jejunum. There was also a periceliac round rubbery lesion (firstly diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound) that was excised for ruling out malignancy. Histologic examination of the periceliac mass was found to be adrenocortical adenoma with foci of myelolipomatous metaplasia. The pancreatic cyst histology was just a pseudocyst.

Conclusion

Our case highlights the significance of complete evaluation of incidental findings before surgical intervention, even in the setting of another primary tumor. Myelolipoma and myelolipomatous change (metaplasia) are two different entities. Although very similar as to pathogenesis, there are still some differences.

Myelolipoma of Kidney: A Rare Extra-Adrenal Tumor in an Unusual Site

Myelolipoma of the kidney is a very rare benign disease which is composed of mature adipose tissue admixed with mature hematopoietic elements in varying proportions. The most common location of myelolipoma is in the adrenal glands, but extra-adrenal myelolipomas in other locations such as the retroperitoneum, presacral region, pelvis, and mediastinum has also been reported. In this case report, we present a case of huge extra-adrenal myelolipoma in renal parenchyma which is rare site for its origin. We report a case of extra-adrenal myelolipoma occurring in the left kidney of a 46-year-old Indian man. We describe the radiological and clinicopathologic features of this unusual tumor with a review of the literature. This case is noteworthy because the tumor was very enlarged and its site was unusual. It is generally impossible to distinguish extra-adrenal myelolipoma from other retroperitoneal tumors by radiological imaging given the rarity of tumor more cases need to be reported to elucidate its biological behavior.

Myelolipoma of renal sinus in a patient with end-stage renal disease: A rare differential diagnosis in renal neoplasms

Myelolipoma is an uncommon benign neoplasm composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic elements. Myelolipoma occurs most frequently in the adrenal gland but occasionally can be seen in extra-adrenal locations such as lung, liver, retroperitoneum, mediastinum, and kidney. We report a case of extra-adrenal myelolipoma presented as a localized asymptomatic mass in the renal sinus of left native kidney of a 60-year-old woman. The patient was being investigated for end-stage renal disease status post renal transplant. Histologic examination of the lesion showed classic features for myelolipoma. Our case illustrates the awareness of this entity in unusual location and the appropriate use of diagnostic modalities to prevent unnecessary surgical interventions particularly in patients with major co-morbidity in the future.

A RARE CASE OF RAPIDLY ENLARGING MYELOLIPOMA IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Objective

Adrenal myelolipoma (AM) is a benign tumor composed of mature fat cells and hemopoietic elements. Most AMs are incidental findings on imaging and clinically asymptomatic. The purpose of this case report is to describe a rare case of AM and explore its clinical manifestations, imaging features, and treatment.

Methods

In this study, we report a case of a rapidly growing right AM in a patient with uncontrolled hemoglobin sickle cell disease. A 38-year-old male presented to our institution's endocrine surgery clinic for evaluation of an enlarging right adrenal mass. This mass was incidentally found during an abdominal ultrasound performed for transaminitis and thrombocytopenia. Patient was asymptomatic without any abdominal discomfort, back pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Results

Patient was lost to follow up until 2018. Follow-up computed tomography scan in 2018 showed the right adrenal mass measuring 12.3 cm in greatest dimension with significant macroscopic fat. Given the imaging features, AM was the presumed diagnosis. However, with a medical history of uncontrolled sickle cell disease, extra-medullary hematopoiesis and rapidly growing liposarcoma could not be ruled out. Surgical excision was performed due to size and significant tumor growth. Diagnosis was confirmed with histopathology and revealed myelolipoma.

Conclusion

Image characteristics can be helpful in diagnosis of AM; however, the appearance of this lesion on computed tomography can be similar to other adrenal gland pathologies such as liposarcoma and mass-forming extramedullary hematopoiesis. Percutaneous needle biopsy may be indicated if the diagnosis remains unclear.

Primary hepatic myelolipoma: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary hepatic myelolipoma is a rare hepatic mesenchymal tumor mixed by adipose tissue and bone marrow, and there is a lack of general guidelines related to its epidemiology and clinical management.

CASE SUMMARY

A 26-year-old woman was admitted to our department complaining of a newly found tumor on her left lobe of the liver. The tumor was painless and not associated with any systemic or localized compressive symptoms. Serological tests disclosed a slight increase of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (70.0 U/L) and total bilirubin (19.2 μmol/L). Ultrasonography showed a mass about 5.0 cm × 5.0 cm in size that was located in the left lobe of the liver and displayed hyperechoic and well-encapsulated characteristics. Surgical resection was applied, and the following histopathological examination observed a variable proportion of myeloid tissues scattering throughout mature fibrotic adipose tissues, in which myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells can be found in magnified view. The follow-up did not show any changes 6 mo after surgery.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights an extremely rare hepatic mesenchymal tumor, the primary hepatic myelolipoma, and discloses the common characteristics behind this disease and gives clinical recommendations.

Ectopic thyroid tissue in adrenal gland, case report and review of literature

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare pathological finding bellow the diaphragm and extremely rare finding is ectopic thyroid tissue in the adrenal gland (ETTAG). Thyroid tissue can be located anywhere along the way of embryological migration pathway of thyroglossal duct. In most cases of ectopic thyroid tissue, it is located in the neck. Here we present a case of 29 years old patient that was laparoscopically operated because of adrenal incidentaloma which showed 28 mm in maximal diameter on MRI. The patient had normal adrenal function. Pathohistological finding confirmed ETTAG. Follicular cells express TTF-1, Thyroglobulin, PAX8, and cytokeratin 7, and lack expression of calretinin. This is the 15th such case described in literature. Women are much more affected than men (14:1), and it usually presents in the fifth decade (mean age 49). In all cases ETTAG was composed of normal follicular cells, and C cells were not found. Review of the literature reveals that adrenal ectopic thyroid tissue is almost always cystic, and has distinctive pathologic features. The most important thing is that ETTAG must be distinguished from metastatic deposits from thyroid gland carcinoma. Our patient had normal thyroid function, without any nodules in thyroid gland. We report the youngest patient with ectopic thyroid tissue located in the adrenal gland.

Incidence of ectopic thyroid tissue in the adrenal gland

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare pathological finding bellow the diaphragm and extremely rare finding is ectopic thyroid tissue in the adrenal gland. Thyroid tissue can be located anywhere along the way of embryological migration pathway of thyroglossal duct. In most cases of ectopic thyroid tissue, it is located in the neck. Pathohistologically ectopic thyroid tissue in all cases was formed of follicular cells that expressed TTF-1, Thyroglobulin, PAX8, and cytokeratin 7, and there was lack expression of calretinin. In the literature we found 15 such cases. Women are much more affected than men (14:1), and it usually presents in the fifth decade (mean age 49). In all cases it was composed of normal follicular cells, and C cells were not found. Review of the literature reveals that adrenal ectopic thyroid tissue is almost always cystic, and has distinctive pathologic features. The most important thing is that ectopic thyroid tissue must be distinguished from metastatic deposits from thyroid gland carcinoma.

Development of multiple adrenal myelolipomas after trauma-induced adrenal haemorrhage

Adrenal myelolipomas represent a benign neoplasm with known associations with many chronic diseases, 21-hydroxylase deficiency and cancer. However, the aetiology of adrenal myelolipomas remains unknown. Here, we present a case of a patient with image-proven bilateral adrenal haemorrhages caused by trauma with the subsequent development of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas several years later. Resection and pathological analysis of left adrenal gland confirmed the presence of multiple adrenal myelolipomas. Our case strongly suggests that trauma was the inciting event that led to the formation of these lesions.

A rare case of virilizing adult ectopic adrenal tumor

Ectopic adrenal gland is an atypical medical condition with a prevalence of less than 1%. It occurs due to an abnormal gland development during embryonic life and can be found in different parts of the body. Rarely, these ectopic glands can be hormonally active and present as bulky masses. Herein we report a case of a patient who underwent laparoscopic surgery for a large myelolipoma associated with an androgen producing adenoma in an ectopic adrenal gland.

An Incidental Finding of Extra-adrenal Myelolipoma in the Upper Abdominal Cavity Attached to Mesentery: A Rare Case

Myelolipoma are tumors of adrenal glands typically found in the adrenal gland, and are comprised of marrow elements and fat. We report a case of an extra adrenal myelolipoma in a 91-year-old patient, who presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and shortness of breath. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a mixed attenuation soft tissue mass with admixed fat located within the mesentery inferior to the body of the stomach. A fine needle aspirate of the mass demonstrated a cellular aspirate with maturing trilineage hematopoiesis and mature adipocytes. This case is being presented due to the rarity of extra adrenal myelolipomas.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Arising Within Mediastinal Myelolipoma: A WWTR1-Driven Composite Neoplasm

In this article, we describe a case of conventional epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) arising within an extra-adrenal myelolipoma. This composite neoplasm arose in the mediastinum of a 51-year-old female. The tumor was composed of a large myelolipoma that contained nodules of EHE consisting of CD31-positive epithelioid endothelial cells that grew in solid cords and were enmeshed in a basophilic hyalinized stroma. Both EHE and myelolipoma are characterized genetically by alterations of WWTR1. We demonstrated the expression of CAMTA-1 chimeric protein by immunohistochemistry both in the neoplastic endothelial cells of EHE and some of the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels in the myelolipoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a malignant vascular neoplasm arising in association with myelolipoma.

Coexistence of Myelolipoma and Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia With GIP-Dependent Cushing's Syndrome

Introduction: Adrenal myelolipomas are usually isolated benign adrenal lesions, but can be adjacent to steroid-secreting adrenocortical tumors. We studied the aberrant regulation of cortisol secretion in a 61 year-old woman with combined bilateral myelolipomas and primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH) causing Cushing's syndrome. Materials and Methods: Cortisol response was measured during in vivo tests that transiently modulated the levels of ligands for potential aberrant receptors, including GIP. Response to medical therapies decreasing GIP was monitored. Expression of ACTH and of GIP receptors were examined in resected adrenal tissues by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: In vivo, cortisol increased in response to mixed meals (+353%), oral 75 g glucose (+71%), GIP infusion (+416%), and hLH IV (+243%). Suppression of GIP by pasireotide improved cortisol secretion but produced hyperglycemia. The left adrenal was predominantly composed of myelolipoma and strands of BMAH, while the right was mainly composed of BMAH with some foci of myelolipoma on pathology. No ACTH was detectable by immunohistochemistry in BMAH or myelolipomas tissue. Ectopic GIP receptor was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in BMAH tissues but not in the myelolipomas. No germline mutations were identified in the ARMC5 gene of the patient's leucocyte DNA. Conclusion: This is the first report of interspersed myelolipoma and BMAH with GIP-dependent Cushing's syndrome. In contrast with the BMAH tissues, myelolipoma tissue did not express specific GIP receptors. The potential mechanisms responsible for the interspersed growth of those two lesions remain to be identified.

Myelolipoma of the Pelvis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Myelolipomas are uncommon, benign tumors which typically occur in the adrenal glands and consist of mature adipose tissue and benign hematopoietic components. Myelolipomas can occur outside of the adrenal glands, but the presacral region, retroperitoneum, pelvis, and mediastinum are unusual locations for these tumors. It is important to recognize this entity in these locations since they can attain massive sizes leading to pressure symptoms and need to be differentiated from the malignant tumors like liposarcomas. We present a myelolipoma case in the presacral region. Our case illustrates the clinical approach of these tumors in such unusual locations.

Presacral myelolipoma as a possible parasymptom of cancer: A case report

Presacral myelolipomas are rare, benign, asymptomatic tumors composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic elements. Presacral myelolipomas can occur in patients with a medical history of malignancy, steroid use, and/or endocrine disorders including diabetes mellitus. A 65-year-old man with no specific medical history experienced temporal abdominal pain without bowel symptoms that lasted a few hours. By the time he visited a hospital, the pain had diminished. Computed tomography failed to detect any abnormality in the abdominal or pelvic organs that would have caused the abdominal pain but revealed a lesion 4 cm in diameter in the frontal sacrum. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the lesion contained fat elements with a high signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images, which was decreased on fat-suppression T2-weighted images. Computed tomography-guided biopsy and imaging allowed a diagnosis of presacral myelolipoma. After 3 months, hematochezia was observed, and follow-up examination revealed rectal carcinoma with multiple lung metastases. He died due to spread of the cancer despite chemotherapy, 6 months after the cancer was found. Considering the possible association between presacral myelolipoma and cancer, presacral myelolipoma might be a cancer parasymptom. Checking for possible malignancy may therefore be warranted in patients with presacral myelolipoma, especially in those without diabetes mellitus.

Adrenal myelolipoma: a comprehensive review

INTRODUCTION

Adrenal myelolipoma is an invariably benign neoplasm of the adrenal gland that is the second most common primary adrenal incidentaloma following adrenocortical adenomas. It is composed of elements of adipose tissue and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Hypotheses on stem cells and hormonal factors have been formulated regarding its pathogenesis that is still obscure. Despite its benign behavior, adrenal myelolipoma is clinically relevant as it might cause significant difficulties in the differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors.

METHODS

We have reviewed 420 cases reported between 1957 and 2017 on adrenal myelolipoma retrieved from PubMed and Scopus databases and also 20 of our case series to provide a comprehensive analysis of their pathology, epidemiological and clinical features.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The average age for its diagnosis was 51 years, and no gender difference was observed. The average size of tumors was 10.2 cm. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia was associated to 10% of all cases analyzed, while other adrenal hypersecretory disorders (cortisol, aldosterone) were found in 7.5% of cases. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can be reliably used for its differential diagnosis. If the diagnosis of an adrenal myelolipoma is unambiguous, and no associated symptoms or hormonal activity are established, surgical intervention is usually not necessary.

Myelodysplastic hematopoiesis mimicking the bone marrow in a mediastinal myelolipoma

Myelolipoma is one of the rare causes of posterior mediastinal tumor. Surgical excision is effective, which differs from the treatment of extramedullary disease usually concomitant with myelodysplastic syndrome. Cytogenetic analysis suggests the bone marrow cell originating myelolipoma.

Lipomatous tumours in adrenal gland: WHO updates and clinical implications

Adrenal lipomatous tumour is a group of adrenal tumours with a significant component of adipose tissue. According to the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of endocrine organs, adrenal myelolipoma is the only entity amongst the group of tumours being described. In the literature, other more recently documented adrenal lipomatous tumours included 24 lipomas, 32 teratomas and 16 angiomyolipomas. Rare fatty tumours of the adrenal gland comprised liposarcoma, hibernoma, adrenocortical tumours with fat component and rare adrenal tumours with fat component. Myelolipoma comprises approximately 3% of primary adrenal tumour. It is noted more commonly in females and in the right adrenal gland. Approximately 40 bilateral myelolipomas were reported. The tumour is most frequently recorded in patients between fifth and seventh decades of life. Adrenal lipomas are often seen in males and in the right adrenal gland. They were commonly noted in patients in the sixth decade of life. The diagnosis could only be possible on examination of the surgically removed specimen. Adrenal teratomas were more common in females and with a bimodal age distribution. Slightly over 60% of the patients with adrenal teratoma are symptomatic. Adrenal angiomyolipomas were often symptomatic, more common in females and in the fifth decades of life. To conclude, adrenal lipomatous tumour is uncommon. They are often benign and non-functional. It is important to recognize the features of this group of lipomatous tumours in the adrenal gland as they are being detected on increasing incidence as a result of the wide-spread use of modern imaging modalities.

A CASE OF ADRENAL MYELOLIPOMA A PATIENT WITH BREAST CANCER

Background

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign tumor composed of adipose tissue and hematopoetic elements resembling bone marrow. The majority of myelolipoma do not produce adrenal hormones and are only found as a result of evaluation for another disorder. With the widespread use of non-invasive abdominal imaging for various reason, its incidental detection has become more common. There are a few cases of breast cancer with concomitant adrenal myelolipoma in the literature.

Case

A 43-year-old woman presented to endocrine clinic due to presurgical assessment of adrenal mass prior breast cancer surgery. Abdominal CT showed a 9 x 8 cm sized, lobulated contour heterogeneous fatty density mass with peripheral calcification in right adrenal gland. Hormonal studies for adrenal incidentaloma revealed: Aldosterone/Renin ratio, 0.70 ([normal range < 30]; normal DHEA-S, 85.0 µg/dL ([normal range, 80 -560 µg/dL]), ACTH 25 pg/mL ([normal range, 10 - 60 pg/mL]), morning serum cortisol 8.9 µg/dL ([normal range, 5 - 12 µg/dL]). In 24-hour urine, there revealed free cortisol 21.6 µg/day ([normal range, 10 - 50 µg/day); metanephrine 0.19 mg/day ([normal range < 0.8 mg/day]); 17-ketosteroid 14.06 mg/day ([normal range, 7 - 20 mg/day]). The hormonal results of adrenal mass revealed as nonfunctioning. The adrenal mass was surgically resected in order to rule out malignancy. Pathology report showed myelolipoma.

Conclusion

We reported a case of adrenal myelolipoma coexisting with breast cancer where the diagnosis was made incidentally based on radiological features, treated with surgical resection.

Extra-Adrenal Myelolipoma Containing Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma/Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Myelolipoma is a benign tumor consisting of mature fat interspersed with hematopoietic elements resembling bone marrow. The vast majority occurs within the adrenal glands, but several cases of extra-adrenal myelolipomas (EAMLs) have been reported. We report a case of a 64-year-old male who presented with complaint of lower abdominal discomfort. CT scan of abdomen and pelvis showed a 6 cm × 5 cm, well-circumscribed, predominantly fatty mass in the presacral region. Histological examination of the pelvic mass revealed a myelolipoma heavily infiltrated by small lymphoid cell aggregates with immunophenotypic features of small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SLL/CLL). Review of the literature revealed that there is only one published report of SLL/CLL involving a myelolipoma, which was also an extra-adrenal myelolipoma, and, therefore, our case is the second case of a SLL/CLL involving a myelolipoma that is an extra-adrenal myelolipoma. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas seem to the preferred myelolipomas for involvement by SLL/CLL.

Is size really a contraindication for laparoscopic resection of giant adrenal myelolipomas?

A 55-year-old non-diabetic, normotensive man presented with dull aching pain in the left upper abdomen of 2-year duration. He had no significant medical, surgical or family history. Relevant blood tests and chest skiagram were normal. 24 h urinary vanillylmandelic acid levels and serum electrolyte levels were normal. Ultrasonogram and CT findings were suggestive of a 15 × 11 cm giant left adrenal myelolipoma. A left adrenalectomy was performed using a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach employing three ports. Pneumoperitoneum was achieved by this closed method. After successful excision, the internal contents were suctioned and the capsule was retrieved through a 2.5 cm incision. The operating time was 210 min and total blood loss 50-60 mL; no blood transfusions were needed. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. Histopathology confirmed an adrenal myelolipoma. The cited case is of the largest adrenal myelolipoma resected entirely using a laparoscopic approach.

Giant Myelolipoma in the Spleen: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

Myelolipomas are benign tumors, consisting of hematopoietic cells and mature adipose tissue, which mainly occur within the adrenal gland. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas are rare, and fewer than 60 cases have been reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of intrasplenic myelolipoma in a 42-year-old man with more than 1 month of abdominal pain. Computed tomography scanning revealed a giant, heterogeneous, well-demarcated mass in the spleen. Splenectomy was performed, and an intrasplenic giant mass was completely excised. The diagnosis of myelolipoma was made based on morphological examination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of myelolipoma in the human spleen.

Extra-adrenal myelolipoma with hemolytic anemia

Myelolipomas are rare benign tumors often detected as adrenal masses. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas are encountered even more rarely. The rate of detection of these lesions is increasing with improved radiological techniques. Because of their localization and morphological similarities to well differentiated liposarcomas, extra-adrenal myelolipomas need to be differentiated from other aggressive neoplasms. Preoperative imaging and percutaneous biopsy are important tools in the diagnosis of these lesions. We report a very rare case of an extra-adrenal perirenal myelolipoma associated with hemolytic anemia. The etiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment options for the lesion have been discussed. Fat-containing tumors of the retroperitoneum should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis is important to avoid over-treatment of these benign lesions.

Non Functional Unilateral Adrenal Myelolipoma, A Case Report

Adrenal myelolipoma is characterized by presence within the adrenal gland of mature adipose tissue and active bone marrow elements. Owing to their non functional nature most cases are incidental, either at autopsy or through computer tomography scan. Occasionally the lesions attain a large size to become clinically apparent. We present a case of a 58-year-old female with mass per abdomen. Preoperative computer tomography scan of abdomen, hormonal and urine analysis showed features of non functional adrenal myelolipoma. Gross specimen consists of unilateral ovoid mass, external surface having capsule with adherent fat and areas of congestion. Microscopic examination showed well encapsulated tumour tissue composed of mature adipose tissue with major blood forming elements like myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytic series. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of right sided adrenalectomy specimen.

Adrenal myelolipoma: Controversies in its management

Adrenal myelolipomas (AMLs) are rare, benign neoplasms of the adrenal gland with varied clinical presentations. The rarity of these tumors precludes any case-controlled or randomized study into their management. The available literature is limited to case reports and short series from referral centers. This review is an effort to put the available literature into perspective such that clinical decision making can be done with some clarity. The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched with key words Adrenal Myelolipoma, Adrenal Incidentaloma (AI) and Adrenal Collision Tumor (ACT). From over 1300 search results, 547 relevant publications dating from 1954 to 2014 were reviewed. Details of about 1231 AMLs in the indexed literature were analyzed. Increasing usage of imaging studies has significantly increased the discovery of AMLs. Although AMLs are benign tumors, those measuring larger than 6 cm are prone to rupture and hemorrhage. Thorough endocrine work-up may benefit a selected group of patients, especially those who are hypertensive, diabetic/pre-diabetic, young patients (<50 years) and those with bilateral AML. Regular observation is needed for AML patients who are being treated non-operatively, as many of them may require surgery during follow-up. Although the AACE/AAES guidelines for AI (2009) exclude AML from mandatory metabolic work-up for a newly discovered AI, we feel that a significant number of patients with AML would benefit from metabolic work-up. In the literature, endocrine dysfunction in AML is 7% as compared with 11% in AI. Endocrine dysfunction in AML is probably underdiagnosed.

[Adipocytic tumors]

Adipocytic tumors are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms, liposarcoma accounting for approximately 20% of soft tissue sarcomas. The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumors is often problematic and represents a significant proportion of consultation cases. The goal of this article is to review liposarcoma subtypes, the main benign adipocytic neoplasms: lipoblastoma, hibernoma, spindle/pleomorphic cell lipoma, chondroid lipoma, as well as non adipocytic neoplasms with a lipomatous component such as lipomatous solitary fibrous tumor, emphasizing on practical differential diagnosis issues, and immunohistochemical and molecular tools allowing their resolution.

“Dominant” Myelolipoma Encasing Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma

Although myelolipomas of the adrenal glands are detected with increasing frequency with advances in imaging, the occurrence of myelolipoma with adrenal cortical carcinoma remains very rare. We present a case of combined myelolipoma with adrenal cortical carcinoma in a 47-year-old man. In previously reported cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma and myelolipoma, the latter occurred as incidental foci within or peripheral to the carcinoma, perhaps representing “myelolipomatous metaplasia” rather than true neoplasia. We describe a new finding, in which the myelolipomatous component consisted of a large mass adjacent and dominant to the carcinoma. The presence of these 2 defined and apparently independent tumors suggests, in this case, the occurrence of collision or synchronous neoplastic events, rather than of metaplasia.

Giant adrenal myelolipoma masquerading as heart failure

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare benign tumors of the adrenal cortex composed of adipose and hematopoietic cells. They have been postulated to arise from repeated stimulation by stress, inflammation and ACTH oversecretion. Myelolipomas are usually detected incidentally on imaging and do not require any active intervention besides regular follow-up by imaging. However, myelolipomas may insidiously grow to large sizes and cause mass effects and hemorrhage. Timely diagnosis and surgical resection are curative and lifesaving.

Coordination of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and aberrant canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling for heterotopic bone formation in adrenal myelolipoma: A case report

The precise mechanism of heterotopic ossification caused by several types of tumours is largely unknown. However, recent studies have indicated that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is closely linked to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in this rare phenomenon of bone formation. We report a rare case of adrenal myelolipoma (ML) in a 27-year-old woman with heterotopic bone formation. Immunohistochemical findings showed BMP2 expression in the cytoplasm of tumour cells, as well as the matrix adjacent to newly developed bone tissue. In addition, β-catenin was prominent in the cytoplasm and nuclei of BMP2-positive tumour cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of adrenal ML showing heterotopic ossification with accelerated expression of both BMP2 and β-catenin. Our case findings indicate that BMP2 overexpression via aberrant canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling may contribute to heterotopic bone formation occurring in adrenal ML.

Adrenal and extra-adrenal myelolipomas - a comparative case report

Myelolipoma is an uncommon benign tumour composed of mature fat tissue and haematopoietic elements and is most commonly found in the adrenal gland. We report a case, which was discovered incidentally on chest X-ray, of a rare occurrence of multifocal extra-adrenal myelolipoma in the thoracic paravertebral region. This was further investigated with multi-detector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The presumed diagnosis, of extra-adrenal myelolipoma, was histologically confirmed via tissue sample obtained by computed tomography guided biopsy. We compare the adrenal and extra-adrenal entities from the perspective of published literature and also review the cases, published in Pubmed, of extra-adrenal myelolipomas in order to summarize the different locations of this lesion.

Intraocular myelolipoma in a dog

An 8-year-old Scottish terrier was presented with a red and painful right eye. Slitlamp biomicroscopy and ocular ultrasound demonstrated the presence of a large mass in the anterior chamber. Enucleation was performed one week after initial presentation. Histological examination of the eye revealed a relatively well-delineated mass distorting the dorsal iris and occupying most of the anterior chamber. The tumor was composed of fully differentiated adipose tissue and normal hematopoietic cells of the three major blood-forming elements. These findings were most consistent with the diagnosis of an anterior chamber myelolipoma distorting the iris. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of an intraocular myelolipoma in any species.