title: Ectopic adrenal tissue in the spermatic cord in pediatric patients: surgical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the incidence and relevance of ectopic adrenal tissue in pediatric patients who underwent groin surgical explorations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 1120 patients with groin surgical explorations during a period of 8 consecutive years. Patients' clinical data and histological findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found ectopic adrenal tissue in 13 patients in 1120 groin surgical exploration (1.16%). Of the 13 cases, 5 were diagnosed as having undescended testes, 6 inguinal hernia and 2 communicating hydrocele. Median age at diagnosis was 5.6 years. Histological sections showed adrenal cortical tissue with no medulla present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the clinical implications of those adrenal rests it is mandatory the removal of this ectopic tissue whenever encountered during surgical interventions in the groin region in children.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Teresa Herrera, Complexo Hospitalario Juan Canalejo, A Coruna, Spain. roberto.mendez.gallart@sergas.es
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Manuel G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tellado
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Somoza
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Abuin
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vela
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002828:Choristoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery