[Adrenal apoplexy--endogenous, exogenous and therapeutic multiplicity]

From the aspect of morbidity, adrenal apoplexy is primarily a disease of newborns or infants, frequently with subclinical rather than frank manifestations. The development is governed by the susceptibility fetal processes of adrenal transformation to disturbances and injury. Exogenous causes such as birth trauma and bacterial inflammation, are seen in some cases, as are sympathogenous neoplasms. When it is diagnosed some uncertainty about benign or malignant development of the disorder persists in the background. With sonography now available as a diagnostic tool, in the majority of the cases conservative monitoring for a tendency to spontaneous resorption is enough. This approach, however, also involves the risk of identifying a protracted circulatory shock or the growth of an adrenal tumor too late. The surgeon also faces the problem of possible misinterpretation of hematoma impacted into the fascia of the capsule of Gerota as a nephroblastoma with consequent erroneous treatment. The relative rareness of the disorder means surgeons have little personal experience with it, which compounds the difficulties. In comparison with the situation in children, treatment of the adult form of the disorder appears almost simple.