title: Adrenal incidentalomas: what is the role of fine needle biopsy?
abstract: A series of 13 patients with incidental adrenal mass discovered by computed tomography or/and ultrasound is reported. In 5 cases endocrine evaluation and radiological criteria suggested the diagnosis of the mass. In 8 cases we carried out fine needle biopsy (FNB) under ultrasound guidance. FNB confirmed in two cases the presence of metastatic diseases, in one case adrenal adenoma, in other two cases myelolipoma and in one case lymphoma. Surgical exploration was avoided in all cases. In two cases the presence of an asymptomatic adrenal carcinoma and of a giant adenoma, potentially malignant, was demonstrated by FNB. None of the patients underwent surgical exploration as a final diagnostic measure. In conclusion, FNB may represent a useful tool to select the best modalities of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaboardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000473:pathology