Adrenal Hemorrhage in a Neonate

ABSTRACT

Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage is frequently associated with birth trauma or perinatal hypoxia. Hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal glands is often found at autopsy and many small lesions are usually asymptomatic. A palpable abdominal mass and jaundice are the usual presenting signs. Ultrasound is very useful in the diagnosis of this lesion; however, if the mass has mixed echoic pattern, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful for the differential diagnosis from neuroblastoma. We present the case of a female newborn who was found to have a abdominal mass on physical examination. The patient showed anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. An ultrasonogram disclosed a 3.8 × 3.0 cm suprarenal mass with mixed echoic pattern. The mass was initially suspected to be neuroblastoma. An abdominal computed tomogram was not able to differentiate the mass. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed markedly increased signal intensity on T1 and T2-weighted sequences. This findLl1g was consistent with adrenal hemorrhage. Serial sonogram demonstrated the mass that resolved completely by 12 weeks of age.