Abnormalities in incidentally removed adrenal glands

Abstract

This study provides a base for evaluating incidentalomas. The incidence and type of pathological findings in a large group of surgically removed adrenal glands were analyzed: 282 resected adrenals from the years 1995 to 2004 were examined; 242 adrenals were removed for therapy of renal cell carcinomas (in one case both adrenals were removed). Other indications for adrenalectomies were malignant tumors (urothelial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, etc.) and benign findings (oncocytoma, angiomyolipoma, pyelonephritis, etc.). A total of 18 adrenals exhibited a metastasis or diffuse infiltration of the adrenal or para-adrenal tissue by a malignant tumor (17 renal cell carcinomas, 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Seven adrenals exhibited an adenoma. Eighty-nine adrenal hyperplasias were diagnosed. Eighty-six adrenals included myelolipomatous or lipomatous foci. One hundred and thirteen adrenals (40.1%) did not exhibit any pathological findings. The adrenals exhibited infiltration or metastasis by malignant tumors (6.4%), adrenal adenomas (2.5%), adrenal hyperplasias (31.6%), and other alterations (38.7%).