Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Venoplasty Balloon Model in Rodents to Simulate Surgical Interventions for Deep Veins
Published on: May 24, 2024
Primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma with inferior vena cava extension in a 70-year-old man
Sai K Doppalapudi1, Tejash Shah1, Valerie A Fitzhugh2
1Department of Urology, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Abstract:
Primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma, a malignant soft tissue tumour originating from the smooth muscle of the inferior vena cava and adrenal vein, is rarely described in the literature. Cases are often diagnosed at an advanced stage as the tumour is not hormone-producing. We describe a 70-year-old man who presented with lower extremity swelling and abdominal varices and was subsequently found to have a large adrenal mass on imaging. Our case is among the few reported primary adrenal leiomyosarcomas in which a CT-guided biopsy was used to aid in diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Adrenal Glands
These glands possess a distinctive yellow tinge due to the stored cholesterol and fatty acids required for hormone synthesis. They are encased in a fibrous capsule and cushioned by fat.
The adrenal gland comprises two distinct...
Adrenal Gland Disorders
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and...
Sympathetic Pathways: Collateral Ganglia and Adrenal Medulla
Collateral Ganglia
Sympathetic preganglionic axons reach the collateral ganglia along the route of splanchnic nerves. These nerves bypass the sympathetic trunk and communicate with sympathetic postganglionic neurons housed in the prevertebral ganglia. These ganglia supply the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
The greater splanchnic nerve, formed by the...
Primary Active Transport
Anatomy of the Heart

