Abstract：Objective To study the clinical signif icance of cystic degeneration in the adrenal cortex of newborns. Methods We reviewed the clinical data and morphologic changes of the adrenal c ortex of 70 newborns who died between January 1990 and December 1996. Re sults Cystic degeneration of the adrenal cortex was observed in 29 case s. There was a significantly higher incidence of cystic degeneration in infantswhose gestational age ≤36 w than those whose gestational age>36 w (60% vs 24. 57%, χ2=9.95,P<0.005). We also found a higher incidence of cys tic degeneration in asphyxiated infants than in nonasphyxiated ones. Histochem ical study showed that cystic degeneration was related to lipid depletion in the adrenal cortex. Conclusions Microcyst information in the outer adrenal cortex was associated with prematurity and perinatal hypoxia, which may be a reaction stress situation.
