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Diagnosis: Intrarenal ectopic adrenal tissue

Adrenal tissue can be aberrantly located in the kidney. Cases of both true ectopic intrarenal adrenal tissue and renal–adrenal fusion have been reported. They are usually discovered incidentally in autopsies and surgical specimens and are of no clinical significance. However, in certain situations, like the present case, adrenal heterotopia may pose a diagnostic challenge. (Ye H, et al. Intrarenal ectopic adrenal tissue and renal–adrenal fusion: a report of nine cases. Mod Pathol. 2009;22(2):175-81. [PubMed link] [Free full text]).

This lesion does not contraindicate trasnplantation, however, in frozen sections can not be easy to distiguish it from clear cell carcinoma.

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References

• Brčić I, Leniček T, Ulamec M, Tomić M, Krušlin B. Intrarenal ectopic adrenal tissue associated with renal angiomyolipoma. Pathol Int. 2011;61(12):778-80. [PubMed link]

• Ye H, Yoon GS, Epstein JI. Intrarenal ectopic adrenal tissue and renal–adrenal fusion: a report of nine cases. Mod Pathol. 2009;22(2):175-81. [PubMed link] [Free full text]

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