Abstract

CASTRO, Daniel et al. Laparoscopic surgery in a patient with right adrenal myelolipoma. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2015, vol.30, n.4, pp.317-324. ISSN 2011-7582.

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare slow-growing benign tumors composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic cells. They most often occur in adults in the 5th-6th decade, and usually measure between 3 and 7 cm; 70% of cases are asymptomatic and are part of the so called incidentalomas of the adrenal gland. Treatment can be conservative or surgical, depending on the symptoms, the size of the mass and the growth of the tumor in consecutive imaging studies. We report a 63-year old man with history of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlipidemia. A right adrenal mass was reported as incidental finding in diagnostic imaging. Physical examination and paraclinical studies ruled out a functioning tumor. Right laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed without complications and a myelolipoma was diagnosed by histopathology. Myelolipomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of the adrenal gland incidentalomas. Laparsocopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure with rapid recovery, does not require special instruments or devices, and is cosmetically superior to the open technique.

Keywords : Adrenal glands; myelolipoma; incidental findings; adrenalectomy; laparoscopy.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )