42. Suprarenal cortical adenoma

Organ: Adrenal gland

Adrenal adnoma prep

Description:

There is a large, kind of yellowish, benign tumor. It has a capsule, an expansile border and is well-demarcated.

The black part of the prep is probably a haemorrhage in association with the tumor.

Diagnosis: Adrenal adenoma

Causes:

• Nothing special

Theory:

These tumors are “silent” in 80% of cases, meaning they don’t produce hormones. In the remaining 20% of cases they can produce aldosterone or cortisol, causing Conn syndrome or Cushing syndrome, respectively.

These tumors are usually yellow due to their lipid content, however the formalin fixation for this preparation has made it less yellow.