[Adrenal tumors of fortuitous discovery. 13 cases]

An adrenal mass without any clinical or biological symptom was accidentally discovered in thirteen patients. All patients underwent surgical exploration. After surgery, pathological studies showed lesions of corticosuprarenaloma (5 considered benign, 1 malignant and 1 uncertain) myelolipoma (2 cases), adrenal cyst, ganglioneuroma, haemangioma and lymphangioma (1 case each). Since no reliable preoperative investigations are yet available to assess the nature of adrenal masses, and since these may be due to benign or malignant endocrine tumours, their surgical removal is indicated.