The Incidental Adrenal Mass on CT: Prevalence of Adrenal Disease in 1,049 Consecutive Adrenal Masses in Patients with No Known Malignancy

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (5) ◽  
pp. 1163-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie H. Song ◽  
Fakhra S. Chaudhry ◽  
William W. Mayo-Smith
Author(s):  
Gamze Akkus ◽  
Ferhat Piskin ◽  
Barış Karagun ◽  
Murat Sert ◽  
Mehtap Evran ◽  
...  

Background: Diagnostic imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should also perform on all patients with incidentalomas. However, there is a limited study whether the quantitative measurements (signal intensity index, adrenal to spleen ratio) in MRI could predict the functional status of adrenal adenomas. Material-Method: Between 2015-2020; 404 patients (265 females, 139 males) with adrenal mass who were referred to the university hospital for further investigation were included. After detailed diagnostic hormonal evaluation, all patients underwent MRI 1.5 T device (Signa, GE Medical Systems; Milwaukee, USA). The signal intensities of the adrenal lesions on T2W images were qualitatively evaluated and noted as homogenous or heterogeneous in comparison with the liver signal intensity (SI). A chemical-shift SI index and chemical shift adrenal-to-spleen SI ratio were also calculated. Results: While 331(81.9%) of the patients had nonfunctional adrenal mass, the rest of them (n=73, 18.1%) were patients with functional (autonomous cortisol secretion-ACS, cushing syndrome-CS, pheochromocytoma, primary hyperaldosteronism-PA) adrenal masses. In phase vs phase values of patients with NFAI, Pheo(n=17), ACS (n=30), CS (n=11), and PA (n=15) were 474.04±126.7 vs 226.6±132.4, 495.3±182.8 vs 282.17±189.1, 445.2±134.8 vs 203.3±76.2, 506.8±126.5 vs 212.2±73.6 and 496.2±147.5 vs 246.6±102.1, respectively. Mean signal intensity index (SII) and adrenal to spleen ratio (ASR) of all groups (NFAI, Pheo, ACS, CS, PA) were 52.0±24.8 and 0.51, 44.9±22.5 and 0.55, 49.5±24.5 and 0.53, 56.2±16.4 and 0.43, 47.6±25.1 and 0.54, respectively. Based the current accepted measurements in the case of ASR and SII, all lesions were similar and shown as fat rich adenomas (p*= 0.552, p** = 0.45). Conclusion: The quantitative assessment (SII, ASR) of intracellular lipids in an incidentally discovered adrenal tumour could only help distinguish adrenal masses in case of adenomas or non-adenomas As initial diagnostic evaluation, clinical and laboratory assessment ,to distinguish hormone secretion, should be taken in all patients with adrenal incidentalomas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-212
Author(s):  
Md Sazzad Hossain ◽  
Mohammad Zahid Hasan ◽  
Mir Ehteshamul Haque ◽  
Mostakim Maoya

Disseminated histoplasmosis affecting the adrenal glands is a very rare infection and an uncommon cause of adrenal insufficiency. We present a case of bilateral adrenal histoplasmosis in a 77 years old immunosuppressed patient who presented with bilateral adrenal masses. The fine needle aspiration cytology of the adrenal mass was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 23, No. 2, July 2020 p.210-212


Author(s):  
Massimo Terzolo

Adrenal incidentaloma is an adrenal mass that is discovered serendipitously with a radiological examination performed for indications unrelated to adrenal disease (1). The incidental discovery of an adrenal mass has become an increasingly common problem, because of the widespread use of ultrasonography, CT, and MRI in clinical practice (2, 3). These techniques have greatly improved their power of resolution over recent years, thereby increasing the possibility of detection of tiny adrenal lumps. Several factors hinder a clear characterization of the phenomenon ‘adrenal incidentaloma’, which may be considered as a byproduct of technology applied to medical practice. Adrenal incidentaloma is not a single pathological entity and the likelihood of any specific diagnosis depends both on the circumstances of discovery and the applied definition of incidentaloma. Unfortunately, published reports are inconsistent in applying inclusion and exclusion criteria for these various factors, making the results difficult to interpret. A further issue is the lack of specific clinical features of the patients carrying an adrenal incidentaloma.


2016 ◽  
Vol 175 (2) ◽  
pp. G1-G34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Fassnacht ◽  
Wiebke Arlt ◽  
Irina Bancos ◽  
Henning Dralle ◽  
John Newell-Price ◽  
...  

By definition, an adrenal incidentaloma is an asymptomatic adrenal mass detected on imaging not performed for suspected adrenal disease. In most cases, adrenal incidentalomas are nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenomas, but may also represent conditions requiring therapeutic intervention (e.g. adrenocortical carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, hormone-producing adenoma or metastasis). The purpose of this guideline is to provide clinicians with best possible evidence-based recommendations for clinical management of patients with adrenal incidentalomas based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. We predefined four main clinical questions crucial for the management of adrenal incidentaloma patients, addressing these four with systematic literature searches: (A) How to assess risk of malignancy?; (B) How to define and manage low-level autonomous cortisol secretion, formerly called ‘subclinical’ Cushing’s syndrome?; (C) Who should have surgical treatment and how should it be performed?; (D) What follow-up is indicated if the adrenal incidentaloma is not surgically removed?Selected recommendations:(i) At the time of initial detection of an adrenal mass establishing whether the mass is benign or malignant is an important aim to avoid cumbersome and expensive follow-up imaging in those with benign disease. (ii) To exclude cortisol excess, a 1mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test should be performed (applying a cut-off value of serum cortisol ≤50nmol/L (1.8µg/dL)). (iii) For patients without clinical signs of overt Cushing’s syndrome but serum cortisol levels post 1mg dexamethasone >138nmol/L (>5µg/dL), we propose the term ‘autonomous cortisol secretion’. (iv) All patients with ‘(possible) autonomous cortisol’ secretion should be screened for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, to ensure these are appropriately treated. (v) Surgical treatment should be considered in an individualized approach in patients with ‘autonomous cortisol secretion’ who also have comorbidities that are potentially related to cortisol excess. (vi) In principle, the appropriateness of surgical intervention should be guided by the likelihood of malignancy, the presence and degree of hormone excess, age, general health and patient preference. (vii) Surgery is not usually indicated in patients with an asymptomatic, nonfunctioning unilateral adrenal mass and obvious benign features on imaging studies. We provide guidance on which surgical approach should be considered for adrenal masses with radiological findings suspicious of malignancy. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for the follow-up of patients with adrenal incidentaloma who do not undergo adrenal surgery, for those with bilateral incidentalomas, for patients with extra-adrenal malignancy and adrenal masses and for young and elderly patients with adrenal incidentalomas


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e239463
Author(s):  
James Anderton ◽  
Marios Ghobrial ◽  
Vasilis Kosmoliaptsis ◽  
Ruth Casey

We report two cases highlighting the role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (18F FDG PET/CT) in the diagnostic and preoperative workup of indeterminate adrenal masses. Case 1: a 60-year-old man was diagnosed with a large left-sided adrenal mass with indeterminate radiological characteristics on CT. Biochemical investigations ruled out tumour hypersecretion. 18F FDG PET/CT was performed to exclude metastases and identified a pulmonary nodule in the left upper lobe. Histology of the resected adrenal tumour demonstrated a secondary metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the lung. Case 2: an 88-year-old male was found to have a heterogeneous and vascular left-sided suprarenal mass and a smaller right-sided adrenal nodule. Both adrenal nodules had indeterminate radiological characteristics. Biochemical investigations were negative. PET/CT demonstrated high avidity in the bilateral adrenal nodules but no extra-adrenal FDG avid disease. Histology demonstrated a metastatic carcinoma of pulmonary origin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e241661
Author(s):  
Neeti Agrawal ◽  
Avivar Awasthi ◽  
Rahin Mahata ◽  
Partha Pratim Chakraborty

Computed tomography (CT) scan is a useful and widely performed diagnostic modality to evaluate adrenal masses. Nature of the mass determines the degree of attenuation both in unenhanced and in different phases of contrast enhancement. Benign neurogenic tumours like ganglioneuroma mimicks pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical carcinoma in non-contrast CT scan. The ‘adrenal protocol’ routinely calculates the wash-out pattern at delayed venous phase (DVP) (15 min) following contrast administration to differentiate majority of benign masses from the malignant ones. Ganglioneuromas typically exhibit continuous wash-in of contrast where enhancement gradually increases to attain its peak in DVP. Such wash-in pattern is different from the wash-out pattern observed in pheochromocytomas or adrenocortical adenomas or carcinomas. Presence of this wash-in pattern provides a useful clue to the clinician for underlying ganglioneuroma in hormonally inactive adrenal masses with suspicious morphological appearances. This wash-in pattern also effectively rules out any malignant potential of ganglioneuroma, and thus helps in preoperative decision-making.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Vaidya

The adrenal glands are composed of two distinct tissue types: the cortex, which serves as a factory for adrenal steroidogenesis, and the medulla, which produces catecholamines as a neuroendocrine organ. Neoplasia of the adrenal is approached by considering both whether the tumor is benign or malignant and whether it may represent a hormonally active tumor that can contribute to cardiometabolic disease or a hormonally silent tumor. Adrenal neoplasia is rarely malignant. This module discusses the approach to an incidentally discovered adrenal mass, with emphasis on the clinical determination as to whether it is benign or malignant and hormonally functional or nonfunctional. The pathogenesis and genetics of hyperaldosteronism and pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma are reviewed, as are the pathogenesis and management of adrenocortical carcinoma. Tables describe the differential diagnosis and diagnostic approach for an incidentally discovered adrenal mass; suggested biochemical screening tests for incidentally discovered adrenal masses; radiographic features of adrenal masses to determine benign or malignant potential; and the genetics of primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, and paraganglioma syndromes. A drawing shows the genetic mechanisms of hyperaldosteronism in familial hyperaldosteronism type III. Algorithms outline the suggested management approach for the incidentally discovered adrenal mass, genetic counseling and testing for patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma, testing for family members of patients with pheochromocytoma and positive genetic testing, patients with stage I–III adrenocortical carcinoma, and patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma. This module contains 6 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, 55 references, and 5 MCQs.


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