Myxoid neoplasms of the adrenal cortex - A rare histologic variant

The myxoid variant of adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare neoplasm described previously in only two case reports. Because of the rarity of these lesion s, the presence of myxoid changes in adrenal cortical neoplasms usually rai ses the possibility of malignancy. We studied the histopathologic features of 14 cases of myxoid adrenocortical neoplasms, including six adenomas and eight carcinomas. All patients with adenomas with sufficient follow-up (n = 5) were alive with no recurrence of their tumors or evidence of metastatic disease. Four patients with carcinomas died of their disease, two were ali ve with metastatic disease, and one was alive with no evidence of recurrenc e or metastatic disease. Histologically, the 14 tumors varied in their myxo id composition, ranging from 10% to 95%. The myxoid foci stained positively with Alcian blue and were usually negative with periodic acid-Schiff and m ucicarmine stains. As a group, the immunophenotype of the lesions was typic al of other adrenal cortical neoplasms, with positive immunostaining for vi mentin, synaptophysin, and alpha-inhibin. One tumor was focally positive fo r keratin. Myxoid adrenal cortical neoplasms should be included in the diff erential diagnosis of myxoid retroperitoneal neoplasms. Myxoid changes in a drenal cortical neoplasms may be present in both adenomas and carcinomas, a nd the usual clinical and histopathologic features for adrenocortical neopl asms should be used to diagnose these neoplasms.