What is the difference between an adrenal adenoma and an adrenal myelolipoma?

Histology: Adenoma is any benign growth. Myelolipoma usually called for fatty tissue growth.

Different tumor type: An adrenal adenoma is just made up of adrenal cortical cells (the normal cells of the gland). A myelolipoma is composed of mature fat and bone marrow elements (also normal). This tumor has a very specific appearance by imaging -- and is usually not a functional tumor. It does not have to be removed, unless there are symptoms.

Myelolipoma = fat: Myelolipomas have predominately fat density on ct scan and are almost always benign and do not produce hormones. Adrenal adenomas resemble normal adrenal tissue and may produce hormones.