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Purpose: The present study's purpose was to examine the morphometric development of the suprarenal gland using anatomic dissection methods during the fetal period. Methods: This study was performed on 172 human fetuses (76 males and 96 females) and 344 fetal suprarenal glands obtained from ages 9-40 weeks of gestation with no external pathology or anomaly. Fetuses were divided into 4 groups between gestational ages as follows: Group 1, 9-12 weeks (first trimester); Group 2, 13-25 weeks (second trimester); Group 3, 26-37 weeks (third trimester); and Group 4, 38-40 weeks (full term). Also, the fetuses were grouped into monthly cohorts: 9-12 weeks 3rd month, 13-16 weeks 4th month, 17-20 weeks 5th month, 21-24 weeks 6th month, 25-28 weeks 7th month, 29-32 weeks 8th month, 33-36 weeks 9th month, and 37-40 weeks 10th month. The suprarenal glands were dissected in the abdominal cavity. The dimensions (width, length, and thickness), volumes and weights of the suprarenal glands were evaluated. The ratio of the fetal suprarenal gland weight/fetal body weight, the ratio of the fetal suprarenal gland volume/fetal kidney volume, and the ratio of the fetal suprarenal gland dimensions/fetal kidney dimensions were evaluated. Results: Mean values and standard deviations of all parameters according to gestational weeks and trimesters were calculated. It is found that all parameters increase with gestational age. There was significant correlation between gestational age and all parameters ( p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between sexes for any of the parameters ( p > 0.05). There was no difference between the right and left sides of parameters except the thickness of the suprarenal glands. The left suprarenal glands were thicker than the right. The ratio of suprarenal volumes to kidney volumes was determined, and we observed that the ratio decreased during the fetal period. Conclusions: We believe that the results obtained from this study will be beneficial in understanding the development of suprarenal glands and also contribute to future studies in obstetrics, perinatology, and fetopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

malposition of the left suprarenal gland with varied relations and vasculature was observed in a 50-year-old male cadaver during the routine dissection of the abdominal region. The gland was partly situated over the hilum of the left kidney. Its posterior surface was related to the left crus of the diaphragm and to the hilum of the left kidney extending some distance above on the medial margin of the kidney. Its anterior surface was totally covered by the body of the pancreas and the splenic artery and vein. There were only two suprarenal arteries. A left lateral branch of the aorta divided into three branches of which the middle and inferior branches entered the gland as seperate suprarenal arteries. There were the two suprarenal veins of the gland which were draining into the left renal vein. Such a malposition with varied relations and vasculature is of utmost importance from the surgical point of view because it can affect the orientation of the surgeon in laparoscopic adrenalectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty suprarenal glands were studied, 20 being dissected from aborted fetuses of 9 to 36 weeks’ gestation and 20 obtained from human cadavers of ages 1 day to 60 years. All the specimens were from a Northern India population. The side and shape of each suprarenal gland was noted and documented. The length, breadth, thickness and volume of each gland were measured and tabulated in terms of age. The mean length, breadth and thickness in fetuses of 9–36 weeks were found to be 1.4 cm, 1 cm and 0.45 cm respectively. In the postnatal age group the measurements were 4.5 cm, 2.08 cm and 0.66 cm respectively. The commonest shape of the suprarenal glands on left side was semilunar but on the right side it was highly variable: triangular, tetrahedral, inverted Y or V shaped. On comparison of the gross measurements with available ultrasound and CT scan data it was found that both the length and thickness in the population studied were greater than reported in the literature. A knowledge of these variations is very important in diagnosis of abnormalities of the suprarenal gland, of which tumoral enlargement is rather common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic suprarenal gland is an anomaly which can lead to serious complications during adrenalectomy under endoscopy because of abnormal veins of the retroperitoneum. The authors report a rare dissection of a male which presented with this anomaly in a case of homolateral renal agenesis, highlighting this left pseudorenal vein. No abnormality of the genital tract was found. The anatomic features, associated syndromes, implications for endoscopic surgery are outlined and embryologic considerations and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suprarenal glands are normally located at the superomedial aspect of the kidneys. Accessory cortical masses are seen in approximately half of the newborn but usually disappear later. Several cases with accessory cortical tissues located near the main suprarenal glands have been reported but their usual locations have been rarely described. Here we report a case with accessory cortical tissue located on the right in the retrocrural space with compression symptoms. Such a lesion may be confused with lymphadenopathy radiologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]