[Microcystik change in the outer fetal adrenal cortex in twins (author's transl)]

Adrenal glands from 9 twins, born before the 35th week of pregnancy were examined in order to determine the incidence of microcystic changes in the outer cortex. The lesion was found concordantly in 5 pairs of twins and discordantly in one single pair. One of these twins, discordant for the lesion, died immediately after the delivery, the other one 17 days later. The first child had microcystic changes in the outer cortex while the longer surviving brother was devoid of them. These findings favor the hypothesis that the microcystic change of the outer cortex of fetal adrenal glands is most probably caused by some systemic disorder, which affects simultaneously both twins. The lesions seen to be reversible and/or transient and heal spontaneosly if the child survives.