Clinical and pathological characteristics of adrenal lymphangioma treated by laparoscopy via a retroperitoneal approach: experience and analysis of 7 cases.

To describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of adrenal lymphangioma (AL) and share our experiences of the treatment of AL with retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. All patients pathologically diagnosed with AL were examined. The clinical and pathological characteristics, process of diagnosis, and preparation and treatment of all patients, especially patients treated with laparoscopic surgery, were summarized and retrospectively analyzed. From January 2008 to May 2014, 8 patients underwent adrenalectomies and were diagnosed with AL in our hospital. The median age was 45.5 years. All of these patients experienced a smooth adrenalectomy: 7 performed by laparoscopy via a retroperitoneal approach and 1 performed by open surgery. Five were female and the other 3 were male. These patients had unilateral adrenal lesions. Four were located on the right which to be same as the contralateral. In addition, 1 specimen was assayed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which revealed positive results for CD31, CD34, Factor VIII-related antigen and D2-40, and negative results for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. During a brief follow up, all patients exhibited favorable results without discomfort. AL is a benign lesion with mild bio-behavior and patients are generally asymptomatic. The use of computerized tomography (CT) combined with enhanced CT has a superior advantage in diagnosis. Laparoscopic adrenalectomies that are performed via a retroperitoneal approach would be a very safe and efficient choice for AL treatment. D2-40 can be considered as a specific IHC marker in the pathological diagnosis of AL. However, pheochromocytoma and adrenal tuberculosis should be ruled out before and during the operation.