Endothelial cyst of the adrenal gland associated with adrenocortical adenoma: preoperative images simulate carcinoma

Intern Med. 2009;48(4):235-40. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.48.1506. Epub 2009 Feb 16.

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman was referred for characterization of a left adrenal incidentaloma. Endocrinological examinations indicated subclinical Cushing's syndrome, whereas the large volume (10 cm in diameter) and heterogeneous configuration of the tumor raised a strong suspicion of adrenal carcinoma. Hence, left adrenalectomy was performed. Histopathologically, this lesion was a thick hyaline-walled endothelial cyst, flanked with a compressed adrenocortical adenoma. The puzzling image resemblance of a variation of adrenal cyst to carcinoma necessitated histological examination for confirmative diagnosis. This is the first reported case of adrenal endothelial cyst associated with adrenocortical adenoma, the former of which alone is a rarity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology*
  • Adrenal Glands / surgery
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / diagnosis*
  • Aged
  • Cysts / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cysts / pathology*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes