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A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
Isolated adrenal hematoma presenting as acute right upper quadrant pain
Kalil G Abdullah1, Russell N Stitzlein, Thomas A Tallman
1Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|February 11, 2010
Summary
Traumatic adrenal hematoma can cause right upper quadrant pain in adults. Early recognition is key for appropriate management of this infrequent injury in trauma patients.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Adrenal hematoma is a rare complication in adult trauma care.
- Often associated with severe abdominal injuries, high mortality rates.
Observation:
- A 23-year-old male presented with right upper quadrant pain post-blunt trauma.
- Initial diagnosis: abdominal contusion with incidental adrenal adenoma.
- Persistent pain led to re-evaluation; imaging revealed an enlarged adrenal mass consistent with acute adrenal hematoma.
Findings:
- The adrenal hematoma was self-limited, treated with supportive care.
- Follow-up imaging showed complete resolution of the hematoma and symptoms after 8 weeks.
- Clinical presentation and evidence suggest prioritizing adrenal hematoma over abdominal contusion with incidental adenoma.
Implications:
- Highlights the adrenal gland as a potential source of right upper quadrant pain in trauma.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering adrenal hematoma in the differential diagnosis for trauma patients with abdominal pain.
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