This site is targeted at medical and radiology professionals, contains user contributed content, and material that may be confusing to a lay audience. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use.

Adrenal haemangioma

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

An adrenal haemangioma is a rare benign tumour which is usually incidentally identified (one example of an adrenal incidentaloma). Its significance mainly relates to the difficulty in differentiation from other malignant lesions.

Epidemiology

Although these can be found at any age, they are most commonly encountered 40 -70 years of age and are more common in women with a female : male ratio of approximately 2 : 1 ³.

Clinical presentation

Adrenal haemangiomas are usually incidentally identified when the region is imaged for other reasons. On occasions these lesions may haemorrhage ^2-4. Bilateral adrenal haemangiomas have only been reported a few times ⁶.

Radiographic features

Plain film

Usually no abnormality can be detected, although if very large the mass or its effects on surrounding structures may be appreciable. Phleboliths or dystrophic calcification are visible in up to two thirds of cases ^5-6.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound features and non-specific demonstrating a mass of variable size and variable echotexture.

CT

Typically adrenal haemangiomas are soft tissue attenuation masses, varying in size from a few centimeters to as large as 25cm ³. The larger masses frequently have areas of calcification representing either phleboliths or dystrophic calcification in areas of previous haemorrhage ^1-3.

With administration of contrast they enhance similarly to haemangiomas elsewhere ^1,3-4,6:

heterogeneous
mainly peripheral
gradual filling in over time is sometimes seen, but less frequently than in the liver
central region is often scarred and does not significantly enhance
tending to remain isodense to the aorta on all phases

MRI

MRI is often helpful, demonstrates lesions that are ¹:

T1
- hypointense relative to liver
- central intrinsic hyperintensity may be present due to haemorrhage
T2
- very hyperintense peripherally
- central scar hypointense
T1 C+ (GAD)
- peripheral enhancement which persists
- gradual filling in sometimes seen

Treatment and prognosis

Unfortunately it is difficult to exclude malignancy based on imaging or even biopsy, and as such some authors recommend all suspected adrenal haemangiomas to be excised, which is curative. Others recommend only excising large or symptomatic tumours, or those with imaging features which raise the possibility of malignancy ^1,3,6.

Excision may either be a traditional open adrenalectomy or laparoscopic adrenalectomy.