Adrenal pathology: Elements of biologic models and practical applications

The natural history of adrenal lesions depends on the understanding of the main biological features, which have different application criteria in both cortical and medullary proliferation. Those vital elements represent the cornerstone for proper pathologic diagnosis. They include: Adrenal cortical lesions: - Malignancy criteria - Contributions of gene expression - Cellular heterogeneity - Cell segregation and vascular supply - Morphology and function Adrenal medullary lesions: - Pheochromocytomas in familial syndromes - Precursor lesions: Criteria, clonality, and kinetic - Malignancy and topographic heterogeneity