Functional and non-functional types of adrenal tumors: a case series

Abstract

Adrenal gland masses could be classified into functional, malignant, or benign. An adrenal cortical adenoma is one of the most common incidentalomas found with either functional or non-functional type. Pheochromocytoma is a neural crest cell origin tumor associated with catecholamine production. A classic triad of headache, sudden episodic perspiration, and tachycardia marked a pheochromocytoma. We report three patients with adrenal tumors. First, a 52-year-old woman with complaints of pain in the left flank suggests a left kidney tumor. The patient has an increased blood pressure intraoperatively. Adrenal cortical adenoma was found postoperatively. The second case is an Indonesian male 27-year-old with pain in the upper right abdomen. Intraoperative, the patient also has an escalation in blood pressure. Antihypertensive drugs are also used in this patient. Postoperatively, a pathology result of pheochromocytoma was revealed from this patient. The third case, adrenal myelolipoma, was suspected in a 48-year-old male and underwent surgery because of tumor growth. Later, a histopathological examination revealed myelolipoma of the adrenal. Management of adrenal tumor should be done individually based on each patient. In the first and second cases, blood pressure was unstable intraoperatively and was managed using several drugs, and was stable at follow-up. In the third case was no hemodynamic problem. In the case of an adrenal tumor, management tailoring should be based on the individual patient.