Adrenal Myelolipoma: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign tumor composed of mature lipomatous and hemopoietic tissue. Although it is often discovered as an incidental finding on imaging of the abdomen for some other reason or at autopsy, adrenal myelolipoma has been reported to present with symptoms such as flank pain resulting from tumor bulk, necrosis, or spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Myelolipomas are hormonally inactive but have also been reported to coexist with other hormonally active tumors of the adrenal gland. They are usually unilateral but may be bilateral and may also develop in extraadrenal sites like the retroperitoneum, thorax, and pelvis. We report a patient with symptomatic adrenal myelolipoma diagnosed on computed tomography scan and confirmed on computed tomography-guided biopsy. The patient underwent surgical resection for symptomatic relief. We also review the literature to evaluate the presentation and optimal management of this rare adrenal tumor that is not encountered by most general surgeons and therefore not well known to most surgeons.