Adrenal Cyst - Causes and Signs of Adrenal Cyst

Adrenal cysts are classified according to morphological features:

• Epithelial cyst - the walls of the capsule of such a formation consist of the cortex of the adrenal glands or cells of the secretory segment of the kidney.
• Endothelial cyst - arising from the cells of the lymph nodes or blood vessels.
• Parasitic cyst - the result of the activity of hydatid echinococcus.

• Pseudocyst - a formation that arose as a result of hemorrhage.

Despite the fact that endocrinologists are involved in the treatment of adrenal cysts, this pathology does not affect the hormonal background of a person as a whole and the process of hormone production.

Causes

Cyst adrenal gland is formed in the embryonic period and is the result of pathological development of the fetus. The cyst can manifest itself at different ages under the influence of certain factors, such as trauma, vasodilation or enlarged lymph nodes.

Symptoms

In most cases, the pathology is asymptomatic, so it is diagnosed by chance, for example, during an ultrasound of the abdominal organs or retroperitoneal space.

When the cyst reaches impressive sizes, the patient experiences the following symptoms:

• High blood pressure. It occurs as a result of compression of the renal artery by the cyst body.
• Painful sensations that occur in the back, lower back, side.
• A feeling of distension or squeezing in the abdominal cavity.
• Impaired kidney function.

Diagnostics

To establish the correct diagnosis and exclude other pathologies whose symptoms are similar to an adrenal cyst, the endocrinologist prescribes a number of diagnostic measures:

• Clinical examination and collection of information about pain, blood pressure measurements.
• Instrumental studies: ultrasound with Doppler scanning, MRI and CT.
• Differential diagnostics: phlebography, angiography.
• Laboratory tests: hormonal and biochemical.
• Biopsy.

Treatment

Cysts that do not exceed 4 centimeters in diameter are not treated. The patient must undergo an ultrasound of the adrenal gland once every six months to monitor the dynamics of the pathology: possible enlargement of the cyst, the appearance of inflammatory processes, and other complications.

Currently, there is no conservative treatment for adrenal cysts. Treatment is performed exclusively surgically. The operation is performed by an endocrinologist surgeon.

Today, the following types of surgical intervention are practiced:

• Cystectomy - removal of the cyst and its membrane.
• Partial adrenalectomy - removal of the cyst and a small part of the gland. In this case, the functions of the gland are preserved, and hormone replacement therapy is not required.
• Laparoscopy is the least traumatic method, with the help of which small cysts are removed without signs of growth into regional tissues.

The result of the operation is consolidated by hormone replacement therapy.

Prevention

The reasons for the active growth of the adrenal cyst have not been fully clarified, and accordingly, there are no preventive measures for this pathology as such. As for patients who have undergone surgery or have an adrenal cyst, they are recommended to visit an endocrinologist every six months, as well as undergo ultrasound or CT of the adrenal glands.