A Rare Cavernous Hemangioma of the Adrenal Gland

Overview

Journal Int J Surg Case Rep

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2014 Jan 21

PMID 24441435

Citations 8

Authors

Janet P Edwards

Heather C Stuart

Stefan J Urbanski

Janice L Pasieka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare. We report a case of a cavernous hemangioma of the adrenal gland presenting as an adrenal incidentaloma suspicious for adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC).

Presentation Of Case: A 78 year old woman was admitted after a fall. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large right adrenal lesion with features suspicious for adrenal cortical carcinoma (5.4cm×3.3cm, unilateral, tumor calcifications, average Hounsfield units 55). The tumor was removed intact by a laparoscopic approach and pathology revealed a cavernous hemangioma of the adrenal gland.

Discussion: Adrenal incidentalomas are found in up to 10% of patients undergoing abdominal imaging. Differential diagnosis includes both benign and malignant lesions. Guidelines for removal of adrenal incidentalomas recommend surgery based on functional status, size, and presence of concerning features on diagnostic imaging. Cavernous hemangiomas are rare, benign vascular malformations which can be challenging to distinguish pre-operatively from malignant lesions such as ACC.

Conclusion: Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are exceedingly rare. These benign tumors have imaging features which may be suggestive of adrenal cortical carcinoma. The treatment of choice is surgical excision due the difficulty of excluding malignancy.

Citing Articles

The diagnostic dilemma of adrenal vascular tumors: analysis of 21 cases and systematic review of the literature.

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Incidental adrenal hemangioma clinically suspicious for malignancy: diagnostic considerations and review of the literature.

Toklu A, Mesa H, Collins K Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2022; 15(11):444-458.

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Clinical Features and Outcomes of Adrenal Cavernous Hemangioma: A Study of 8 Cases from a Single Center.

Huang H, Wu X, Lin X, Li D, Zeng J Int J Endocrinol. 2021; 2021:5549925.

PMID: 34007272 PMC: 8099531. DOI: 10.1155/2021/5549925.

Cavernous Hemangioma of the Adrenal Gland: A Rare Adrenal Incidentaloma.

Gupta A, Gupta A, Gupta S, Durgapal P, Sideek R, Verma S Niger J Surg. 2020; 26(2):159-161.

PMID: 33223816 PMC: 7659751. DOI: 10.4103/njs.NJS_12_19.

Adrenal cavernous hemangioma: A rare tumor that mimics adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Nishtala M, Cai D, Baughman W, McHenry C Surg Open Sci. 2020; 1(1):7-13.

PMID: 32754687 PMC: 7391906. DOI: 10.1016/j.sopen.2019.04.001.

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