Imaging Features of Chronic Adrenal Hematoma: Case Reports

Nontraumatic adrenal gland hemorrhage is associated with several conditions including stress, hemorrhagic diathesis or coagulopathy, iatrogenic cause or underlying tumor. The imaging features of adrenal gland hemorrhage vary with the age of blood cells. Chronic hematomas are usually large and round in shape with a well-defined margin. On magnetic resonance imaging, the internal signal intensity appears heterogeneous. Contrast enhancement studies may show the linear peripheral enhancement with a gradually increasing pattern, causing difficulty in the differentiation of these hematomas from other adrenal neoplasms. A study of the imaging features and etiologies of adrenal hemorrhage/hematoma may enable accurate diagnosis and thus prompt management. Herein, we report two cases of adrenal hematoma to summarize its characteristic imaging features.