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The American Journal of Case Reports May 2022BACKGROUND Myelolipoma is a benign tumor, commonly found in the supra-renal gland, which is composed of mature fatty tissue admixed with hematopoietic elements. However,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND Myelolipoma is a benign tumor, commonly found in the supra-renal gland, which is composed of mature fatty tissue admixed with hematopoietic elements. However, there are several extra-adrenal sites reported in the literature and thoracic myelolipoma is an unusual location for extra-adrenal myelolipoma. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 71-year-old man previously diagnosed with hypertension who was admitted due to a motor vehicle injury with a lumbar spine fracture. The patient developed non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction during admission. A coronary angiogram revealed three-vessel disease. Triple coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery was planned. Upon opening the chest through median sternotomy, a retrosternal adherent mass was incidentally discovered. The mass was excised and histopathological evaluation showed it was myelolipoma in the anterior part of the mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS It is well known that myelolipoma occurs in extra-adrenal sites, and is rarely found at unexpected site, as in our case, which was found incidentally at the anterior mediastinum. With an extensive literature review, we found only 1 case located in the anterior mediastinum. It is crucial to know that myelolipoma can occur in the anterior mediastinum to avoid pitfalls with other differential diagnoses, especially when it is found incidentally and requires a frozen section examination, as it is difficult to diagnose through radiologic imaging only because it can overlap with tumors that are rich in either adipose tissue or hematopoietic elements. However, it affects patient management, and patients usually need only follow-up instead of going through invasive procedures for resection of non-functional tumors, especially in older patients or patients with comorbid diseases.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Mediastinum; Myelolipoma
PubMed: 35614634
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.936005 -
Gland Surgery Sep 2019Detection of adrenal lesions, because of the widespread use of imaging and especially high-resolution imaging procedures, is increased. Because of the importance to... (Review)
Review
Detection of adrenal lesions, because of the widespread use of imaging and especially high-resolution imaging procedures, is increased. Because of the importance to characterize those findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in particular chemical shift imaging (CSI), is useful to distinguish whether a lesion is benignant or malignant and to avoid further diagnostic or surgical procedures. It represents the first choice of imaging in patient like children or pregnant women, and a valid complement to other imaging techniques like CT or PET/CT. In this review we analyze the role and characteristic of MRI and the imaging features of most common benignant (adenoma, hyperplasia, pheochromocytoma, hemorrhage, cyst, myelolipoma, teratoma, ganglioneuroma, cystic lymphangioma, hemangioma) and malignant [neuroblastoma, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), metastases, lymphoma] adrenal lesions.
PubMed: 31559189
DOI: 10.21037/gs.2019.06.02 -
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Mar 2021Abdominal ultrasound plays a vital role in the diagnostic work-up of many cats presenting to general and specialist practitioners. Ultrasound examination of the spleen... (Review)
Review
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE
Abdominal ultrasound plays a vital role in the diagnostic work-up of many cats presenting to general and specialist practitioners. Ultrasound examination of the spleen provides important information to aid the investigation of several conditions and is particularly relevant when an enlarged or irregular spleen is identified during abdominal palpation.
CLINICAL CHALLENGES
Despite ultrasonography being a commonly used modality, many practitioners are not comfortable performing an ultrasound examination or interpreting the resulting images. Even for the experienced ultrasonographer, differentiating between incidental findings and pathological changes can be challenging.
AIM
This review, part of an occasional series on feline abdominal ultrasonography, discusses the ultrasound examination of the normal and diseased spleen. Aimed at general practitioners who wish to improve their knowledge of and confidence in feline abdominal ultrasound, this review is accompanied by high-resolution images and videos available online as supplementary material.
EQUIPMENT
Ultrasound facilities are readily available to most practitioners, although the use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool is highly dependent on operator experience.
EVIDENCE BASE
Information provided in this article is drawn from the published literature and the author's own clinical experience.
Topics: Abdomen; Animals; Cats; Palpation; Spleen; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 33627002
DOI: 10.1177/1098612X21993658 -
Oncology Letters Apr 2015Intrapulmonary myelolipoma is a rare, benign tumor composed of mature adipose tissue and normal hematopoietic cells. To the best of our knowledge, 10 cases of...
Intrapulmonary myelolipoma is a rare, benign tumor composed of mature adipose tissue and normal hematopoietic cells. To the best of our knowledge, 10 cases of intrapulmonary myelolipoma, including the present case, have been reported to date, and the majority have focused on the pathological diagnosis of the disease. The radiological features of intrapulmonary myelolipoma have not been studied. Therefore, the present study reports a case of primary myelolipoma in the lung, and examines its computed tomography features and pathology. Furthermore, other potential diagnoses are discussed in the context of the relevant literature. The present report describes the case of a 57-year-old female who experienced chills, but no coughing or expectoration, with an intermittent fever of 38.6°C that had been apparent for 13 days. Chest CT scan revealed a benign nodule and bronchiectasis in the lower lobe of the right lung. The patient then underwent a lobectomy of the lower right lung by thoracoscopy. The histological analysis of the excised specimen identifid a myelolipoma consisting of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic cells. There was no recurrence after 513 days of follow-up, as shown by CT.
PubMed: 25789022
DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.2913 -
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics &... Jun 2008
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Aged; Edema; Female; Frozen Sections; Humans; Myelolipoma; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 18603520
DOI: 10.1016/S1028-4559(08)60094-7 -
AACE Clinical Case Reports 2021
PubMed: 34765738
DOI: 10.1016/j.aace.2021.04.001 -
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and... 2020Adrenal myelolipomas are nonfunctional tumors that are usually asymptomatic; however, they have been known to coexist with other endocrine disorders, such as Cushing's...
Adrenal myelolipomas are nonfunctional tumors that are usually asymptomatic; however, they have been known to coexist with other endocrine disorders, such as Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), Conn's syndrome, and pheochromocytoma. We report a case of a 49-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes mellitus who complained of chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and early satiety. Preoperative contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) was performed, and adrenal myelolipoma was considered, lab investigations revealed a nonfunctional tumor. CECT also revealed bilateral renal cortical cyst, right renal calculi, and hepatic cyst. A left open cortical sparing adrenalectomy was performed, pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis, and a radiological surveillance was planned for the right tumor. Four years following this, the patient came back with a similar presentation. Right adrenalectomy was performed after preoperative workup, and subsequently steroid replacement therapy was initiated. We suggest adequate follow-up of a patient presenting with adrenal myelolipoma and to explore the possibility of establishing a syndromic diagnosis such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
PubMed: 33643873
DOI: 10.4103/ijem.IJEM_737_20 -
BMC Urology Jul 2023Myelolipoma is a benign neoplasm of the adrenal cortex, composed of fat and hematopoietic cells. Although myelolipoma is benign, differentiation from adrenocortical...
BACKGROUND
Myelolipoma is a benign neoplasm of the adrenal cortex, composed of fat and hematopoietic cells. Although myelolipoma is benign, differentiation from adrenocortical cancer may be difficult. The presence of adrenal and extra-adrenal myelolipomas simultaneously is sporadic, making it a challenging case, especially when the preoperative diagnosis is ambiguous.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 65-year-old man was referred to our clinic due to a mass in the adrenal fossa. In the abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT), a well-circumscribed fat-containing 78 × 61 × 65 mm bi-lobulated mass was reported in the left adrenal fossa. The first differential diagnosis was myelolipoma. The patient was then referred to our clinic for a mass excision. He was asymptomatic and was scheduled to undergo laparoscopic-assisted adrenalectomy. After adrenalectomy and mass dissection, surprisingly, another mass was detected in the retroperitoneal area. The second mass was also dissected. The final diagnosis was myelolipoma for both masses. The patient has been symptom-free for nine months after the operation.
CONCLUSION
Simultaneous adrenal and extra-adrenal myelolipoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses. However, because this situation is extremely rare, the probability of malignancy should be highly regarded, and we suggest an obsessive approach when approaching this condition. It is essential to manage these cases on a case-by-case basis and tailor the management concerning intraoperative biopsy, the intraoperative appearance of tumors, and the location of extra-adrenal masses.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; Myelolipoma; Retroperitoneal Space; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenalectomy; Laparoscopy
PubMed: 37420221
DOI: 10.1186/s12894-023-01288-5 -
Arab Journal of Urology Dec 2011Lipomatous tumours of the adrenals are almost always benign. The importance of recognising their characteristic radiological features, leading to their correct... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lipomatous tumours of the adrenals are almost always benign. The importance of recognising their characteristic radiological features, leading to their correct treatment, is fundamental, as there has been an increase in the identification of these lesions. Our goal was to review all lipomatous tumours of the adrenal glands, particularly myelolipomas, their imaging methods and surgical management, updated in 2011.
METHODS
This was a retrospective review of articles published in the USA and Europe, from 1979 to date. The sites from which information was retrieved covered PubMed, Medscape, Clinical Imaging, Histopathology, Urologia Internationalis, Archives of Surgery, JACS, the American Urological Association, BMJ, Medline, and Springer Link. We report areas of controversies in addition to well established guidelines.
RESULTS
We reviewed 45 articles, that confirmed, with a high level of evidence-based medicine, that the diagnosis of a lipomatous adrenal tumour is made by various imaging procedures, particularly computed tomography (CT). We emphasise the importance to their management of the initial size of the adrenal mass, its increase in size over time, in addition to the presence of symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Lipomatous tumours of the adrenals are most frequently benign. The diagnosis is usually made by various techniques, in particular CT. The fundamental characteristics indicating the necessity of surgical intervention are the symptoms presented, volume of the tumoral mass (>5 cm), and the increase in size of the tumour as shown in two consecutive imaging studies.
PubMed: 26579309
DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2011.10.003 -
Cureus Aug 2023Adrenal myelolipoma is considered a benign neoplasm that accounts for 6% to 16% of adrenal incidentalomas, and it is the second most common incidental adrenal tumor...
Adrenal myelolipoma is considered a benign neoplasm that accounts for 6% to 16% of adrenal incidentalomas, and it is the second most common incidental adrenal tumor after adrenal adenomas. They are usually asymptomatic; however, in the presence of symptoms, significant growth, or complications, open surgical resection is indicated. We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with obesity and diabetes who experienced five years of left hemiabdominal pain, which was unsuccessfully treated symptomatically. A computed tomography scan revealed findings suggestive of pancreatic lipoma and a suggestive image of left adrenal myelolipoma. Resection of the tumor was performed using an anterior midline approach, and histopathological examination confirmed left adrenal myelolipoma. The presented case represents the typical presentation of these tumors in a patient in the fifth decade of life with obesity, diabetes, and nonspecific abdominal pain possibly related to the size of the lesion found. Surgical intervention was indicated due to the presence of symptoms, lesion size, contiguity with abdominal organs, and the absence of a precise diagnosis. An anterior midline approach was chosen, and histopathological examination provided a definitive diagnosis. Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare entity that is often asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed through imaging studies. However, they should be resected when symptomatic to prevent complications. Open surgical resection is the preferred approach.
PubMed: 37692624
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43240