Ectopic adrenal tissue around the prostate: A rare case

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Endocrinology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Adrenal ectopia, the presence of adrenal tissue outside the adrenal glands, is uncommon.
• Reported locations include the renal area, celiac plexus, kidneys, and gonadal descent pathways.
• Ectopic adrenal tissue adjacent to the prostate is exceptionally rare in medical literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of ectopic adrenal tissue discovered incidentally around the prostate.
• To contribute to the understanding of the anatomical variations of adrenal tissue.
• To emphasize the diagnostic challenges associated with detecting ectopic adrenal tissue.

Main Methods:

• A 56-year-old male presented with gross hematuria.
• Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bladder wall lesions, leading to a diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
• The patient underwent radical cystoprostatectomy, with subsequent pathological examination.

Main Results:

• The surgery was successful, with pathology confirming invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma.
• Unexpectedly, ectopic adrenal tissue was identified adjacent to the prostate capsule.
• The patient recovered well and was discharged without complications.

Conclusions:

• This case highlights the extreme rarity of ectopic adrenal tissue around the prostate.
• Such findings are typically incidental and may contain only cortical tissue, appearing nonfunctional.
• The small size and rarity make preoperative imaging detection of prostatic ectopic adrenal tissue difficult.