Bilateral adrenal myelolipoma revealing an adrenal insufficiency: A case report

Once mostly discovered on autopsy, adrenal myelolipomas are now increasingly diagnosed due to the frequent use of modern imaging methods. However, bilaterality remains quite rare. We present the case of a 31 years old female patient treated in our department for a bilateral adrenal myelolipoma which revealed an unknown peripheral adrenal insufficiency.

We describe the case of a 31-year-old woman in apparent good health with no medical history who was explored for recurrent right lumbar pain by a computed tomography scanner which showed a large right adrenal mass and a smaller lesion in the left adrenal gland. Preoperative biology revealed an unknown peripheral adrenal insufficiency. Right open sub-costal adrenalectomy was performed, Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas and radiological surveillance was planned for the left tumor.

Adrenal myelolipoma (AML) is a rare, benign and typically non-functional tumor of the adrenal gland, usually unilateral and asymptomatic, incidentally detected on CT. Commonly diagnosed between the fifth and seventh decades of life. It can affect both sexes our patient is a 31-year-old female and presented with bilateral AML. Unlike previous reported cases, our patient has a previously unknown peripheral adrenal insufficiency, which could be incriminated in the development of his bilateral adrenal myelolipomas. The optimal management depends on both clinical presentation and tumor characteristics.

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare tumor. Endocrinological investigation should be performed to detect and treat endocrine disorders. The therapeutic attitude depends on tumor size complications and clinical complaints.

This is a case report from our urology department, and has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria.