Hemorrhagic pseudocyst of the adrenal gland: a case report

A case of haemorrhagic cyst of the adrenal gland (pseudocyst) is reported. The interest is related to the histologic and pathogenetic aspects which are still controversial. In this case the cyst may be explained as a consequence of an hamartomatous vascular anomaly or as a traumatic consequence: the histopathological finding characterized by the presence of irregular vascular channels in the outer fibrous wall of the cyst may suggest that haemorrhage occurred in a preexisting blood vascular anomaly, whereas the anamnestic information of a trauma in the past suggests a traumatic origin of the mass. Clinical findings were characterized by lumbar tension and pain without palpable mass; the specific diagnosis was made preoperatively by ultrasonography and CT scan of the abdomen. Left adrenalectomy was performed through an anterior extraperitoneal approach following a supraumbilical incision.