Transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy of a large adrenal lipoma: A case report and review of literature

The exponential increase in use of computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has lead to a significant increase in the detection of asymptomatic adrenal masses. The prevalence of adrenal " incidentalomas" is approximately 4-10%. We present a case of a 55-year-old male with a large right adrenal mass that was followed by serial computer tomography scans and multiple non-diagnostic core biopsies. Due to the large size of the mass and unknown pathology, the patient underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The patient's post-operative course was uneventful. Pathology revealed a very unusual finding, a large adrenal lipoma. Adrenal lipomas are rare, benign, non-functioning tumor like lesions that occur with a relative frequency of only 0-11%. Over the past decade approximately 10 cases have been reported in literature. We review the literature of the current diagnostic and surgical treatment of adrenal lipomas (Pubmed and Cochrane from 1992-current).