Adrenal tissue in the placenta: a heterotopia caused by migration and embolism?
Heterotopic adrenal tissue is not uncommon, especially in the urogenital system. Adrenocortical tissue in the placenta, however, is presumably very rare. To our knowledge, four cases have been published. There are several different theories to explain such a heterotopia. According to our findings, an embolic spread of adrenal precursor cells via fetal vascular shortcuts is the most likely mechanism. Apart from that hypothesis, the possibility of a monodermal teratoma as well as of an aberrant differentiation of cells of the extraembryonic mesoderm are considered in the literature.
Guschmann
M
M
Abteilung für Paidopathologie und Plazentologie, Universitätsklinikum Charite, Virchow-Klinikum, Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany. Michael.Guschmann@charite.de
Vogel
M
M
Urban
M
M
D000311:Adrenal Glands; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002465:Cell Movement; D002828:Choristoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014427:Twins
D015415:Biomarkers