October 3, 2010

Adrenal Myelolipoma

Axial CT image shows a large right adrenal mass (arrows) which contains several foci of macroscopic fat (arrowhead).

Facts:
  • Benign biochemically inactive tumor of the adrenal gland thought to be due to metaplastic change of reticuloendothelial system of capillaries
  • Contains mature adipose tissue and normal hematopoietic cells
  • Most commonly occurs in adrenal glands, but can be seen in other tissues (ie, retroperitoneum presacral region)
  • Most are asymptomatic (found incidentally on imaging). If large, or symptomatic, it can be treated with surgical excision and/or adrenalectomy
  • Rare, less than 0.2% in population
Imaging Features
  • Adrenal mass containing fat attenuation, virtually diagnostic of adrenal myelolipoma (bright on ultrasound, fat on CT and MR)
  • May contain calcification
Reference:
Adrenal myeloliopma at URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case165/dx.html

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