frequency, embryogenesis and functional significance of ectopic adrenocortical tissue

ABSTRACT

Ectopic adrenocortical nodules have frequently been found along the embryologic path of the urogenital ridge. The present paper reports 15 new cases occurring within this confine. The frequency rate of these nodules based on surgical or autopsy files is not reliable because of sex-bias of the samples studied. Their removal, however, whenever encountered during surgery is warranted because although the majority of the nodules undergo atrophy during childhood, some may become hypertrophic and functional after adrenal abalation. They rarely become neoplastic