Ectopic adrenocortical adenoma in the abdominal wall linked to the head of the pancreas: A case report

Introduction: Ectopic adrenocortical adenomas are infrequent adrenal tumors that deviate from their usual location. Herein, we report a case of an ectopic black adrenocortical adenoma situated in the abdominal wall, intricately linked to the head of the pancreas.

Case presentation: A 27-year-old female presented to the emergency room with severe right iliac pain, nausea, vomiting, and high fever. Clinical exam showed signs of acute appendicitis in addition to distinctly outlined, slightly painful, and immobile mass located in the right hypochondrium. Both the inflamed appendix and mass were removed surgically. Pathological examination of said mass with subsequent immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of an ectopic adrenocortical adenoma.

Discussion: Our case is unique as it occurred in an adult female which is rare for these types of lesions. In addition to that the lesion was located in the anterior abdominal wall intimately linked with the head of the pancreas making this case the first documented case of such a location in the medical literature.

Conclusion: The successful diagnosis and management of this rare presentation underscore the significance of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach.