Congenital adrenal adenoma, when signs point to another diagnosis

Abstract

Adrenal gland abnormalities are rarely detected in the uterus. A diagnosis to consider is adrenal cortex tumors. These include adrenal adenoma, a benign tumor that is often variable and whose incidence increases with age. Although technological advances in ultrasound make possible to detect abnormalities inside the uterus, prenatal diagnosis is still rare. We present the case of a 17-year-old girl, 24 weeks pregnant, referred to the Provincial Medical Genetics Center of Camagüey for possible renal tumor. Through a Philips ultrasound device, Affiniti 70G, with 3.5 MHz abdominal transducer, two-dimensional images are obtained where a well-defined echogenic mass is observed on the left fetal kidney, suggestive of adrenal tumor, whose ultrasound characteristics pointed to a neuroblastoma. Genetic counseling is provided on diagnostic suspicion as well as potential risks to postnatal life and reproductive options are provided. Both parents opt for voluntary termination of pregnancy. The pathological study reveals an adrenal gland adenoma. Despite advances in imaging, the presence of a fetal adrenal mass remains a challenge for prenatal diagnosis.

Keywords

• tumor de resto suprarrenal
• adenoma corticosuprarrenal
• diagnóstico prenatal