Abstract
Recent remarkable progress in diagnostic imaging results in an increase of the frequency accidentally detecting adrenal tumors. We encountered a patient with myelolipoma of the adrenal gland that was detected by abdominal CT.
The patient was a 39-year-old man, who was admitted because of a tumor mass in the left adrenal gland that was found on abdominal CT during examination for liver dysfunction at a neighborhood hospital.
The abdominal CT revealed a tumor mass (2cm in diameter) showing an area of low density with uneven contents in the left adrenal gland. MRI also revealed an irregular shadow of the mass at the same site. A photograph of the suprarenal veins revealed a compression of the middle suprarenal vein. An adrenal gland function test revealed no abnormality in the medullary system or cortical system, indicating a nonfunctional tumor.
Findings on laparotomy showed an encapsulated, almost spherical dark-red tumor on the medial superior side of the left adrenal gland. Left adrenalectomy was performed. The tumor measured 2.5×2.3cm, and was elastic and soft, with fat-rich parenchymatous properties.
Pathological findings showed the island-like presence of fat cells and marrow cells.
