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Horseshoe adrenal gland associated with spinal and vascular anomalies

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Abstract

Horseshoe (or butterfly) adrenal gland (HAG) is an exceedingly rare congenital abnormality compared to horseshoe kidney. Here we present computed tomography findings of HAG in a 70-year-old man, associated with some spinal and vascular abnormalities; in addition, a brief review of HAG in adult people is presented. In our case, spinal anomalies included a severe scoliosis, a “butterfly” deformation of Th9 vertebra and the presence of a “split lumbosacral thecal sac” at L5 level. As regards, vascular anomalies, they were noted: the origin of the left common carotid artery from the innominate artery and the absence of celiac trunk with separate origin of three branches directly off the aorta (a splenic artery, a left gastrohepatic trunk and a right hepatic-pancreaticoduodenal artery).

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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All the authors (NR, AF, SP, SB, EFM, GAR) wrote and reviewed this article.

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Correspondence to Nicola Romano.

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Romano, N., Fischetti, A., Pamparino, S. et al. Horseshoe adrenal gland associated with spinal and vascular anomalies. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 483–485 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02366-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02366-w

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