Adrenal Ganglioneuroma Presenting as an Incidentaloma in an Adolescent Patient

In an adult endocrine clinic, the majority of patients referred for evaluation of an incidentally discovered adrenal mass are aged more than 30 years, for which many national and international societies have developed management guidelines. However, adrenal incidentalomas in children and young adults are uncommon. We report the case of an 18-year-old woman with an incidentally discovered right-sided adrenal mass.

We present the adrenal tests, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging results and treatment of a young woman with an adrenal mass that proved to be a ganglioneuroma.

A computed tomography scan showed a 2.2 × 2.6 cm right-sided adrenal mass with noncontrast Hounsfield units >10 and <50% washout. Magnetic resonance imaging was not typical of a lipid-rich adenoma. Blood and urine tests demonstrated normal secretion of cortisol, aldosterone, adrenal androgens, and catecholamines. Based on the patient's age and imaging studies, she underwent a right adrenalectomy, removing a 2.2 × 2.0 × 2.7-cm ganglioneuroma.

The differential diagnosis of an adrenal mass in children and adolescents is quite different compared with adult patients. There are no standardized guidelines for the management of adrenal masses in these younger age groups, although some authors recommend removing all adrenal masses, regardless of size or imaging characteristics, in all children aged more than 3 months. This case emphasizes how the management of adrenal masses in pediatric patients and young adults differs from guidelines published by endocrine and urologic societies.