title: [Diagnosis and therapy of asymptomatic adrenal tumors].
abstract: Adrenal tumours had been discovered incidentally (since 1981) in 32 patients (23 females and nine males; mean age 54 [25-73] years) who had had computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography for other reasons: none had a history or symptoms of such tumour. Tumours were bilateral in eight, right or left-sided in 12 each: all had been confirmed by CT. Average tumour size was 3 cm (1-9 cm). Three patients had cortisol-producing adrenal tumours, and there was one benign phaeochromocytoma (abnormally high adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion). Fine-needle biopsies in two patients revealed a benign histology. An adrenalectomy was performed in eight patients (the one phaeochromocytoma, six adenomas and one ganglioneuroma). Follow-up CT in 11 of the non-operated patients 6-48 months later (mean of 14 months) did not demonstrate any increase in tumour size so that a waiting attitude seems justified: benign tumours are clearly much more frequent than malignant ones. However, if the tumour diameter is greater than 6 cm, an adrenalectomy is indicated because of the danger of malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik II, Krankenhaus Köln-Merheim.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reincke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jaursch-Hancke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaulen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieke
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ollenschläger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allolio
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Diagnostik und Therapie asymptomatischer Nebennierentumoren.