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Adrenal Cystic Lesions: A Clinicopathological Analysis of 25 Cases with Proposed Histogenesis and Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Adrenal cystic lesions are uncommon and we analyzed clinical and pathologic features of 25 such cases from a single institute over 23 years. There were 16 pseudocysts, eight endothelial cysts, and one epithelial cyst. Seven of eight endothelial cysts were confirmed to be lymphangiomatous by D2-40 immunostaining. We suggest that pseudocysts and endothelial cysts may have different histogenesis. The proposed mesothelial origin of adrenal epithelial cyst cannot be confirmed in our example. Seven adrenal pseudocysts were associated with tumor, including two pheochromocytomas, one neuroblastoma, one adrenal cortical carcinoma, one adrenal cortical adenoma, one myelolipoma, and one schwannoma. The distinction of true cystic lesion from cystic neoplasm is important and requires thorough sampling of the specimens.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant EMRPD 170151 from Chang Gung Medical Research Fund, Chang Gung University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kuei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Hui-Ping Chien & Chuen Hsueh

  2. Chang Gung Molecular Medicine Research Center and Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Yu-Sun Chang, Yi-Chin Wu & Chuen Hsueh

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Pei-Sung Hsu

  4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Jen-Der Lin

  5. Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Hui-Lang Chang, Cheng-Keng Chuang & Ke-Hung Tsuei

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  1. Hui-Ping Chien
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  2. Yu-Sun Chang
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  9. Chuen Hsueh
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Correspondence to Chuen Hsueh.

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Chien, HP., Chang, YS., Hsu, PS. et al. Adrenal Cystic Lesions: A Clinicopathological Analysis of 25 Cases with Proposed Histogenesis and Review of the Literature. Endocr Pathol 19, 274–281 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-008-9046-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-008-9046-y

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