Electron microscopic findings in benign deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol-producing adrenal tumor.

The ultrastructural characteristics of a benign adrenal adenoma that produces deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Both large, round mitochondria with a few cristae in the peripheral portion and spherical or oval mitochondria with sacrotubular cristae were observed in adenoma cells. The development of agranular or granular endoplasmic reticulum varied from cell to cell. In some cells, many vacuoles and collagenous fibers were also seen. Thus, the adrenal tumor we examined was composed of the cells derived from the fascicular zone, which are associated with Cushing's syndrome, and the cells of the glomerular zone observed in association with primary aldosteronism.