A Rare Case of Solitary Retroperitoneal Neurofibroma Mimicking Carcinoma of the Adrenal Gland

Loriana Lisarelli,Bernhard Widmann,Sabine Baumann,Michael Weitzendorfer,Walter Kolb,Bassel Almarie

doi:10.31487/j.jscr.2020.02.05

Abstract

Neurofibroma, a benign tumor of neural origin, indicates a possible differential diagnosis of adrenal masses in rare cases. It can be solitary or associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. Neurofibroma in the visceral compartment is an uncommon location and considered extremely rare. While it has a very low potential for malignant transformation, accurate diagnosis is nonetheless essential to allow for adequate treatment. In this article, we report a case of a patient with right-sided abdominal pain, fatigue and B symptoms (night sweats and weight loss) as a result of an adrenal tumor measuring 12 cm. The tumor was highly suspicious for malignancy, but the surgical resection revealed a benign neurofibroma. This case report describes a diagnostic and treatment pathway for nonspecific adrenal lesions.

Highlights

We report a case of a patient with right-sided abdominal pain, fatigue and B symptoms as a result of an adrenal tumor measuring 12 cm
A neurofibroma located near the adrenal gland in the retroperitoneal space has been described as a very rare finding and only a few cases have been reported in the literature
Neurofibroma is a benign tumor of the peripheral nerves. It can be a solitary lesion or associated with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1). It develops commonly on the nerves in the skin, but in rare cases occurs in the abdominal cavity and can result in complications such as obstructive jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, or colonic intussusception [1, 2]

Summary

Introduction

A neurofibroma located near the adrenal gland in the retroperitoneal space has been described as a very rare finding and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Neurofibroma, a benign tumor of neural origin, indicates a possible differential diagnosis of adrenal masses in rare cases. We report a case of a patient with right-sided abdominal pain, fatigue and B symptoms (night sweats and weight loss) as a result of an adrenal tumor measuring 12 cm. The tumor was highly suspicious for malignancy, but the surgical resection revealed a benign neurofibroma.

Results

Conclusion