Aldosteronoma — Spironolactone Bodies 


1. Spironolactone is often used to treat hypertension caused by hyperaldosteronism, and as a result, can form concentrically 

laminated electron dense spironolactone body inclusions (SBl)within the adrenal gland. 


2. In a study by Patel et al. (Diag Pathol 2014) SBI were identified in 33% of patients treated with aldosterone antagonists. 

Interestingly, 50% of patients treated with spironolactone had inclusions. 


3. SBI are often small (2—12 urn), round to oval, and delineated from surrounding cytoplasm by a small, clear halo. Red blood 

cells and other intracytoplasmic inclusions can sometimes mimic spironolactone bodies (Duan & Mete Arch Pathol Lab Med 

2015) 


4. Ultrastructural examination: Origin of spironolactone bodies from whorls of endoplasmic reticulum in cells with the 

cytoplasmic features of those from the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland (Patel et al. Diag Pathol 2014). 


 - Dr. Zubair Baloch

@aakasharmand


#Aldosteronoma #Spironolactone #Bodies #Pathology #Clinical #Gross #Microscopy