LARGE ADRENAL PSEUDOCYST
CASE REPORT WITH REVIEW OF LITERATURE


Authors: H.S.Das, P.Hatimota, P.Hazarika, C.D.Choudhury,
*S. K. Barua, **S.J.Baruah
Institution: Matrix, G.S.Road, Guwahati-5 and Guwahati Medical College & Hospital
Key Words: Adrenal cyst MRI
Conflict of interest: None

INTRODUCTION:

Cystic pathologies of the adrenal gland are rare with an incidence of 0.06% in 1400 autopsies. The cyst most commonly found in the adrenal gland are Endothelial cyst (45%), Pseudocyst (40%), Epithelial cyst ((9%) and Parasitic cyst (7%). Pseudocysts are consequences of haemorrhage and degeneration and are usually nonfunctional.
Pseudocysts consist of a hyalinized fibrous capsule containing nest of adrenal cortical cells and amorphous cystic contents composed of admixture of serum, blood and fibrin. Adrenal pseudo cyst vary greatly in size from microscopic to more than 50 cm with highest incidence in 5th and 6th decade with female preponderance.
Symptoms are usually associated with large cyst due to compression of surrounding viceras, pain & vague GI complaints. Imaging studies by CT scan & preferably by MRI Scan helps it to differentiate it from other adrenal pathologies. Surgical extirpation is indicated in presence of symptoms, endocrine abnormalities, complication, large size or suspicion of malignancy.
We report a case of symptomatic pseudo cyst of adrenal gland in an adult female without any hormonal abnormalities which was excised through thoraco-abdominal approach. Surgery was uneventful and patient is asymptomatic at 18 months of follow up.

CASE REPORT:

A 35 years old female presented with a one year history of non specific abdominal discomfort & occasional pain in left upper abdomen. Routine laboratory tests were within normal range. USG showed a well defined approx. 10 cm cystic mass in relation to upper pole of left kidney. MRI showed a large cystic mass separated from upper pole of the kidney with a low signal intensity in T1 weighted images and high signal intensity in T2 weighted images. A complete endocrine workup failed to detect any hormonal hypersecretion. A prospective diagnosis of left adrenal cyst was made and the lesion was excised through thoraco-abdominal approach via 11th rib.
The cyst measured approx. 10 cm in its largest dimension which on cutting open revealed chocolate colored fluid. The wall thickness varied from 0.1 to 0.2 cm. and pathological section revealed fibrous wall without any epithelial lining. The patient had an uneventful post operative recovery. She is completely symptom free at 18 months of follow up visits.

DISCUSSION:

Cysts of the adrenal gland are uncommon lesions and represent 80% of cystic adrenal masses. The etiology of pseudocyst is not well understood but is believed to arise from organization of prior haemorrhage or infectious process (1). Pseudocyst account for 40% of all cystic lesion of the adrenal gland and are consequences of haemorrhage and degeneration (2).
Most adrenal cyst are asymptomatic and less then 10 cm in diameter when discovered incidentally (3) or at autopsy (4). Symptoms appear when pseudo cyst enlarges sufficiently to cause pain and GI disturbances or become palpable (3) as in our patient. Large cyst has tendency to develop complications such as intractable haemorrhage and rupture which can manifest as a surgical emergency (5).

The haemorrhage within these lesions often give atypical imaging features on CT. Ultrasonography which could be confused with an adrenal tumor (6) . MRI is useful in differential diagnosis of adrenal cyst (7) and can differentiate it from pheochromocytoma (8).
MRI shows homogenously low intensity on T1 weighted images and high intensity on T2 weighted images in case of adrenal pseudo cyst (9, 10).
Pseudocyst may be isolated or associated with primary adrenal neoplasm such as Pheochromocytoma, adrenal adenoma, adrenocortical carcinoma and neuroblastoma (11). Pseudocyst could be confused with adrenal tumors both clinically and radiographically (12) . The more complex pseudocyst should be distinguished from cystic degeneration in adrenal malignancy and from cystic renal cell carcinoma in upper pole (2) .

Surgical excision is indicated in presence of symptoms (13), endocrine abnormality (even when subclinical), complications, large size (>5 cm) or suspicion of malignancy (14). Laparoscopic drainage (15, 16) or open surgical extirpation with preservation of adrenal tissue remains the treatment of choice. Large size, increased wall thickness or calcification are features of malignant changes which should be excised and followed up for cystic recurrence, late metastasis or adrenal endocrine dysfunction.
Other lesions that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic adrenal masses are endothelial cyst, lymphangioma, epithelial cyst and parasitic (hydatid) cysts (17, 18).

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of nine patients. World J Surg, 2004;28: 97-99

Figures :
1- MRI , 2- Specimen , 3- Histopathology

* Registrar Deptt of Urology, GMCH
** Prof Deptt of Urology, GMCH

Address for Correspondence:
Dr Himadri Sikhor Das,
Matrix,1st Byelane Tarun Nagar
Near Rajiv Bhawan, G.S.Road,
Guwahati-5
Tel:+0361-2595078
Email: drhsdas@gmail.com