A rare coexistence of adrenal cavernous hemangioma with extramedullar hemopoietic tissue: a case report and brief review of the literature

World J Surg Oncol. 2009 Feb 5:7:13. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-7-13.

Abstract

Background: Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare, benign, non-functioning neoplastic tumors. To our knowledge, 55 cases have been reported in the literature to date.

Case presentation: We report the first case of a large, non-functioning adrenal cavernous hemangioma that was incidentally found during the preoperative staging workup of a 75 year old woman with left breast adenocarcinoma. Imaging with US, CT scan and MRI showed a heterogeneous 8 cm mass with non-specific radiological features that was located on the left adrenal gland. The mass was surgically excised and pathology revealed an adrenal hemangioma with areas of extramedullar hemopoiesis.

Conclusion: Although adrenal hemangiomas are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult, they should always be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal neoplasms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous / diagnosis*
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous / surgery
  • Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed