title: Evaluation of adrenal masses in oncologic patients: dynamic contrast-enhanced MR vs CT.
abstract: The CT examinations, precontrast gradient echo MR images, and fast contrast enhanced dynamic MR studies were evaluated in 44 patients with 52 adrenal masses and known malignant disease of different origin. Morphologic features (size, shape, attenuation, contour, and enhancement) on CT scans, signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images, and patterns of enhancement on Gd-DTPA enhanced dynamic MR studies were analyzed in all patients. With dynamic contrast enhanced studies with prolonged imaging up to 15 min after Gd-DTPA, masses with moderate enhancement and complete washout after 10 min were considered as adenomas. Computed tomography and plain MR had a sensitivity of 0.71 and 0.96, a specificity of 0.75 and 0.88, and overall accuracy of 0.56 and 0.71, respectively. Simultaneous use of precontrast MR and dynamic contrast enhanced studies led to an accurate diagnosis in 88% (sensitivity = 1.0, specificity = 0.91) and thus should be considered in oncologic patients with undetermined adrenal masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Cologne Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Krestin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freidmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fishbach
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Neufang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allolio
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA