A Case of Hemorrhagic Adrenal Pseudocyst Mimicking Solid Tumor

Am J Case Rep. 2017 Sep 27:18:1034-1038. doi: 10.12659/ajcr.905063.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Adrenal pseudocysts are often discovered incidentally on imaging, but the diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. A case of adrenal pseudocyst with hemorrhage is presented that mimicked a solid tumor on imaging, resulting in adrenalectomy. CASE REPORT A 78-year-old woman was found to have a right adrenal lesion on abdominal imaging. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a heterogeneously enhanced mass, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high-intensity T1-weighted and T2-weighed image, with an irregular enhanced margin. The imaging findings were suggestive of a solid tumor of the adrenal gland. Although full endocrine serological studies were negative, the lesion increased in size at two-year follow-up. Right laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed, and a benign hemorrhagic adrenal pseudocyst was diagnosed histologically. CONCLUSIONS Adrenal pseudocyst can be associated with acute intracystic hemorrhage, and imaging will show contrast enhancement, suggesting malignancy. In such cases, surgical excision is both diagnostic and curative.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Aged
  • Cysts / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Humans