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The authors report 3 cases of haematic cysts of the adrenal, discovered in young adults (3 female), presenting with lumbar or lumbo-abdominal pain, sometimes violent, and accompanied by fever. In each cases there was a palpable swelling in the hypochondrium and lumbar fossa. In two cases severe anaemia reflected the amount of haemorrhage which had taken place. IVU with a prolonged vascular nephrotomography time with several views and echotomography confirmed the diagnosis, avoiding the need for aortography whenever possible. The size of the cysts was such that adrenalectomy was necessary in two cases and the extent of adhesions required simultaneous nephrectomy. This is followed by a review of the literature, the dominant features being: the prevalence of haematic cysts which account for 40% of adrenal cysts, the absence of specificity of clinical symptoms and signs and the importance of radiological examinations, and finally the usual absence of any cause even though trauma may sometimes be possible.