|
| |
|

|
| Case
of the Month |
by
Dr K C Choy AM (Mal), MBBS,
M.Med, FRCR
Answer to Case Of the Month
Discussion
The CT scan shows a well defined mass in the left suprarenal region. The
mass is retroperitoneal in location as evidenced by the anterior
displacement of the pancreatic body and tail as well as part of the stomach.
The celiac axis is also stretched and displaced slightly to the right.
The mass is of mixed
density with soft tissue and fat component (negative H.U.). There is no
calcification or cystic component. The features indicate a retroperitoneal
tumour most likely arising from the left adrenal gland. Fatty tissue within
a mass may be seen in a variety of tumours such as teratomas, lipoma/liposarcoma,
angiomyolipomas, and myelolipoma.
At surgery, a well
encapsulated suprarenal tumour was removed. Histopathological examination
showed areas of fatty and haemopoietic tissue and a diagnosis of Adrenal
myelolipoma was made.
|
|
Adrenal
myelolipoma |
|
Adrenal myelolipoma is a
benign tumour of the adrenal cortex and are composed of mature adipose cells
and haemopoietic tissue. They represent metaplastic overgrowth from stem
cells which myelolipomatous and adrenocortical cells share as a common
origin. The
gross appearance resembles fatty tissue and contains patchy red brown areas
of haemopoietic cells. The tumours are not normally not active hormonally
and usually detected incidentally. They are usually seen in the 4th to 6th
decades of life and have no sex predilection. Although retroperitoneal
haemorrhage has been reported, patients are generally asymptomatic. A small
percentage are bilateral and calcifications are occasionally seen. 
|
| About
the Author |
|
Dr K C Choy
is currently attached to the Mahkota Medical
Centre, Melaka as Radiologist.
|
|
Please
click here for more cases! |
Copyright © 2001-2008 College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
All Rights Reserved
Terms
of Use
Last Updated:
Thursday, 21 August, 2003
|
|