Celiac accessory adrenal glands

ILATERAL ADRENALECTOMY has of late as-B sumed a position of some significance in the experimental treatment of prostatic-cancer cases in relapse and in advanced mammary cancer, hence this interest in accessory adrenal organs.Accessory cortical nodules are said to have been first described by Morgagni in 1740.1, 2p 6 Since that time portions of adrenal cortical tissue have been related to the liver,8 pancreas,3 mesentery,4 and the genital tract.5Jaffe noted that some of the larger accessory cortical nodules contained both cortex and medulla.A similar notation is made by Soffer.I n neither instance is there given a proportion of the cases that show the structure of an entire glandular reduplication.I t is the purpose of this paper to give the results of a study of the celiac-plexus region and the number of such reduplicated adrenal glands in that area. MATERIALT h e material for the basis of this study was removed at autopsy by the fellowship group of the Memorial Hospital and comprised consecutive unselected cases.T h e organs were removed en masse and, after examination of the aorta, renal arteries, and vena cava, the adrenal glands were dissected free and removed.T h e aorta and vena cava were then divided just below the origin of the renal arteries.Sharp dissection was then carried anteriorly and superiorly for at least 2 cm.above the origin of the celiac artery.On the anterior aspect, 3 cm. of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries with adjacent tissues were desired in the usual adult caseless for children.This block of tissues was From the Pathological Laboratories, Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.