Cystic Lesion of the Adrenal Gland: A Case Report

Authors

  • Fadi Bassam Almahameed Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE
  • Ashraf ALakkad Department of Internal Medicine, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4083-2800
  • Ashraf Saad Meligy Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE
  • Osama Bassam Afaneh Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Abstract

Background: Cystic lesions in the adrenal glands are infrequent and unusual occurrences, with only a handful of cases documented thus far. These lesions come in various types, exhibiting diverse origins and sharing similar clinical presentations, ranging from benign to potentially malignant cystic growths. Typically, they do not cause symptoms, but in some rare instances, they may lead to abdominal discomfort or a sense of fullness. Due to their rarity, there is ongoing debate surrounding the most effective approach for managing adrenal cysts.

Case Presentation: This case report presents a case of a 36-year-old female who presented with a history of abdominal pain and was incidentally found to have a right adrenal cyst during a CT scan. She exhibited no additional symptoms, such as hypertension, headache, or palpitations. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed, successfully removing the cystic mass without complications. Preoperative laboratory tests, including endocrine function tests, were unremarkable. Imaging studies, including ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT, characterized the cyst as a large, well-circumscribed, low-attenuated structure with peripheral calcifications, distinct from the right suprarenal gland. Gross examination revealed a collapsed cyst measuring 7 x 3 cm with a smooth inner wall, and the right adrenal gland measured 4 x 2.5 cm. The histological analysis identified the lesion as an adrenal pseudocyst with a fibrous wall containing focal dystrophic microcalcifications and embedded adrenocortical cells. No endothelial lining, eosinophils, or parasites were present. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged in stable condition the following day.

Conclusion: This case demonstrates the effective management of a large adrenal pseudocyst through laparoscopic adrenalectomy, resulting in a successful outcome without complications. Comprehensive imaging and histopathological evaluation were crucial in confirming the diagnosis and guiding treatment.

Keywords: Adrenal disorders, Adrenal cyst, Endocrine cancer, Surgery

Keywords:

Adrenal disorders, Adrenal cyst, Endocrine cancer, Surgery

DOI

https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v14i6.6556

Author Biographies

Fadi Bassam Almahameed, Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Ashraf ALakkad, Department of Internal Medicine, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Department of Internal Medicine, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Ashraf Saad Meligy, Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Osama Bassam Afaneh, Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

Department of General Surgery, Madinat Zayed Hospital, AL Dhafra Region, UAE

References

Song JH, Chaudhry FS, Mayo-Smith WWJAJoR. The incidental adrenal mass on CT: prevalence of adrenal disease in 1,049 consecutive adrenal masses in patients with no known malignancy. 2008;190(5):1163-8. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.07.2799 PMid:18430826

Calissendorff J, Juhlin CC, Sundin A, Bancos I, Falhammar HJNRE. Adrenal cysts: an emerging condition. 2023;19(7):398-406. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00835-2 PMid:37095252

Goel D, Enny L, Rana C, Ramakant P, Singh K, Babu S, et al. Cystic adrenal lesions: a report of five cases. 2021;4(1):e1314. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1314 PMid:33295135 PMCid:PMC7941571

Medeiros LJ, Lewandrowski KB, Vickery Jr ALJHp. Adrenal pseudocyst: a clinical and pathologic study of eight cases. 1989;20(7):660-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/0046-8177(89)90153-6 PMid:2737661

Goel D, Enny L, Rana C, Ramakant P, Singh K, Babu S, et al. Cystic adrenal lesions: A report of five cases. Cancer reports (Hoboken, NJ). 2021;4(1):e1314. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1314 PMid:33295135 PMCid:PMC7941571

Bozic Antic I, Djurisic I, Nikolic SJJoCM. Adrenal Cysts: To Operate or Not to Operate? 2024;13(3):846. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13030846 PMid:38337539 PMCid:PMC10856713

Cavallaro G, Crocetti D, Paliotta A, De Gori A, Tarallo MR, Letizia C, et al. Cystic adrenal lesions: clinical and surgical management. The experience of a referral centre. 2015;13:23-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.11.023 PMid:25447606

Karaosmanoglu AD, Onder O, Leblebici CB, Sokmensuer C, Akata D, Ozmen MN, et al. Cross-sectional imaging features of unusual adrenal lesions: a radiopathological correlation. 2021;46:3974-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-021-03041-8 PMid:33738556

Gubbiotti MA, LiVolsi V, Montone K, Baloch ZJAjocp. A cyst-ematic analysis of the adrenal gland: a compilation of primary cystic lesions from our institution and review of the literature. 2022;157(4):531-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqab156 PMid:34596217

Kuruba R, Gallagher SFJCoio. Current management of adrenal tumors. 2008;20(1):34-46. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCO.0b013e3282f301fd PMid:18043254

Nasir M, Rabbani RA, Hamdullah H, Qadri HMJJoPMA. Giant adrenal gland pseudo-cyst: a case report with literature review. 2023;73(6):1317-. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.6896 PMid:37427641

Tinozzi F, Morone G, Calì B, Rebba A, Osman N, Albertario S, et al. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a giant adrenal myelolipoma: A case report. 2022;90:106678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106678 PMid:34952312 PMCid:PMC8715075

Kini JR, Gautam K, Augustine AJJoMS. Adrenal gland cyst: A diagnostic conundrum: Report of a case with review of literature. 2014;28(2):123-4. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-4958.141107

Tahri A, Abdellaoui W, Benyakhlef S, Boujtat K, Mahroug I, Kamaoui I, et al. An uncommon presentation of adrenal cyst with subclinical Cushing's syndrome: a diagnosis dilemma. 2021;2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6662492 PMid:34513098 PMCid:PMC8426056

Issam R, Amine MM, Meriam T, Ahmed C, Mehdi B, Mourad HSJUCR. Lymphangiomatous endothelial cyst of the adrenal gland: A case report. 2021;39:101859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101859 PMid:34621624 PMCid:PMC8479637

Koperski Ł, Pihowicz P, Anysz-Grodzicka A, Gornicka BJP-R, Practice. Cystic lymphangiomatous lesions of the adrenal gland: a clinicopathological study of 37 cases including previously unreported cysts with papillary endothelial proliferation. 2019;215(6):152385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prp.2019.03.014 PMid:30862368

Li J, Wang Y, Chang X, Han ZJEJoSO. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) vs open adrenalectomy (OA) for pheochromocytoma (PHEO): a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2020;46(6):991-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2020.02.009 PMid:32102743

Solanki S, Badwal S, Nundy S, Mehta NNJBCRC. Cystic lesions of the adrenal gland. 2023;16(5):e254535. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-254535 PMid:37142280 PMCid:PMC10163428

Yu N, Du J, Zheng G, Zheng YJC. Giant adrenal cyst: a case report. 2023;15(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37086

Chaabouni A, Samet A, Harbi H, Fourati M, Rebai N, Hadjslimene MJUcr. A case of a giant adrenal cyst. 2021;38:101725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101725 PMid:34040994 PMCid:PMC8144655

Published

2024-06-15
Statistics
Abstract Display: 402
PDF Downloads: 495
PDF Downloads: 57

How to Cite

1.
Almahameed FB, ALakkad A, Meligy AS, Afaneh OB. Cystic Lesion of the Adrenal Gland: A Case Report. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2024 Jun. 15 [cited 2026 Jan. 28];14(6):3-6. Available from: https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/6556

How to Cite

1.
Almahameed FB, ALakkad A, Meligy AS, Afaneh OB. Cystic Lesion of the Adrenal Gland: A Case Report. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2024 Jun. 15 [cited 2026 Jan. 28];14(6):3-6. Available from: https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/6556

Most read articles by the same author(s)