[Giant right adrenal myelolipoma]

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign tumor, well limited, variable in size, composed of fatty and hematopoietic tissues, the finding of which is usually incidental. If they reach a big size they may produce the feeling of abdominal mass, pain, neighbour organs compression and acute intratumoral or retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

We report the case of a 57-year-old male admitted to the hospital with acute abdominal pain. CT scan with i.v. contrast and adrenal biopsy were performed.

Radiological findings: 9 x 10 cm right adrenal mass, well defined, hypodense, with a small calcification in its posterior area. Pathologic findings: benign tumor, encapsulated, with a mixture of mature fatty tissue and hematopoietic cells.

The presence of fat within an adrenal mass is essential for the diagnosis. Differential diagnosis should be done with all adrenal tumors with a fat component. When no radiological diagnosis is made, pathologic confirmation is necessary.