Abstract
Adrenal cortical adenomas are benign neoplasms of adrenal cortical cells that may or may not have functional activity. Adrenal cortical adenomas usually are single unilateral tumors that are more common in females. The incidence is unclear, particularly because many are identified as incidentalomas. Nonfunctional tumors often are identified as incidentalomas or in autopsies. A nonfunctional adrenal cortical adenoma may be associated with clinical symptoms if it is associated with hemorrhage or reaches a large size, although this is uncommon. Functional tumors may be associated with cortisol production (Cushing syndrome), aldosterone production (Conn syndrome), or sex steroid–producing tumors (virilization or feminization). Feminizing or virilizing tumors are quite uncommon, and the presence of these features is concerning for malignancy. Adrenal cortical adenomas may show degenerative features, hemorrhage, and cystic change.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Lack EE. Tumors of the adrenal glands and extraadrenal paraganglia. In: Silverberg SG, Sobin LH, editors. AFIP atlas of tumor pathology, vol. 8. Washington, DC: American Registry of Pathology; 2007. p. 500.
Lack EE. Tumors of the adrenal gland and extra-adrenal paraganglia. In: Rosai J, editor. Atlas of tumor pathology, vol. 19. Washington, DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; 2007. p. 468.
Weiss LM. Comparative histologic study of 43 metastasizing and nonmetastasizing adrenocortical tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 1984;8(3):163–9.
Aubert S, et al. Weiss system revisited: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 49 adrenocortical tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 2002;26(12):1612–9.
Wieneke JA, Thompson LD, Heffess CS. Adrenal cortical neoplasms in the pediatric population: a clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic analysis of 83 patients. Am J Surg Pathol. 2003;27(7):867–81.
Sasano H, Suzuki T, Moriya T. Adrenal cortex. In: Lloyd RV, editor. Endocrine pathology: differential diagnosis and molecular advances. Totowa: Humana Press; 2004. p. 211–26.
Erickson LA, et al. Pathologic features and expression of insulin-like growth factor-2 in adrenocortical neoplasms. Endocr Pathol. 2001;12(4):429–35.
van Slooten H, et al. Morphologic characteristics of benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors. Cancer. 1985;55(4):766–73.
Gandour MJ, Grizzle WE. A small adrenocortical carcinoma with aggressive behavior. An evaluation of criteria for malignancy. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1986;110(11):1076–9.
Tung SC, et al. Bilateral adrenocortical adenomas causing ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome at different periods: a case report and discussion of corticosteroid replacement therapy following bilateral adrenalectomy. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004;27(4):375–9.
Brown FM, et al. Myxoid neoplasms of the adrenal cortex: a rare histologic variant. Am J Surg Pathol. 2000;24(3):396–401.
Mearini L, et al. Adrenal oncocytic neoplasm: a systematic review. Urol Int. 2013;91(2):125–33.
Bisceglia M, et al. Adrenocortical oncocytic tumors: report of 10 cases and review of the literature. Int J Surg Pathol. 2004;12(3):231–43.
Komiya I, et al. Black (or brown) adrenal cortical adenoma: its characteristic features on computed tomography and endocrine data. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985;61(4):711–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Erickson, L.A. (2014). Adrenal Cortical Adenoma. In: Atlas of Endocrine Pathology. Atlas of Anatomic Pathology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0443-3_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0443-3_23
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0442-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0443-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)