Gamal Al Saied | Al Azhar University, Egypt
Abstract
Heterotopic adrenocortical rests (HACR) found incidentally along the spermatic cord in children with undescended testicles are probably not very rare congenital anomaly as previously reported. Because of the migratory nature of the adrenal cortex and medulla during early embryogenesis, the extra-adrenal tissue (adrenocortical rests) can be found anywhere in the abdomen, but typically are located along the anatomic derivatives of the urogenital ridge. Here, we present 8 cases of heterotopic adrenocortical rest found incidentally along spermatic cord during orchiopexy in children. The embryogenesis and pathophysiology as well as the surgical significance and implication are briefly discussed. Keywords: heterotopic adrenocortical rest, undescended testis, ectopic adrenocortical tissue
