Adrenal ganglioneuroma.
BACKGROUND
A 20-year-old man was referred after having been discovered a left adrenal incidentaloma. Characteristics on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the diagnosis of adrenal ganglioneuroma or carcinoma. Pathological examination after adrenalectomy concluded it was an adrenal ganglioneuroma. We studied the characteristics of adrenal ganglioneuroma.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed hormonal status, computed tomography and MRI features, and histological findings of our series of 8 adrenal ganglioneuromas.


RESULTS
Specific features were: (1) no hormonal hypersecretion; (2) presence of calcifications, no vessel involvement; and a non-enhanced attenuation of less than 40 Hounsfield units on computed tomography; and (3) low non-enhanced T1-weighted signal, a slightly high and heterogeneous T2-weighted signal, and a late and gradual enhancement on dynamic MRI, especially if associated with a whorled pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Even if many aggressive tumors share some of those radiological features, the presence of all or most of them must lead the clinician to consider the diagnosis of adrenal ganglioneuroma.
Maweja
Sylvie
S
Department of Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman B35, 4000 Liège, Belgium. smaweja@chu.ulg.ac.be <smaweja@chu.ulg.ac.be>
Materne
Roland
R
Detrembleur
Nancy
N
de Leval
Laurence
L
Defechereux
Thierry
T
Meurisse
Michel
M
Hamoir
Etienne
E
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies