Ultrasound in the detection of adrenal tumours.
An analysis was made of the ultrasound (US) findings in 110 patients with proven or ultrasonographically suspected adrenal tumours. A total of 212 glands were imaged, 117 of which contained a tumour. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in 50 cases and by imaging and follow-up in 162 cases. Normal glands were visualized ultrasonically in 27 out of 40 glands on the right and 5 out of 55 on the left. US detected 55 out of 59 primary adrenal tumours and 49 out of 58 secondary tumours, showing a sensitivity of 89%. In 13 tumours ultrasonography gave a false negative result, and in 13 cases a false positive one. Benign or primary malignant tumours and metastases could not be differentiated on the basis of echo-structure, but a large heterogeneous tumour in a patient with no known extra-adrenal malignancy is probably a primary malignant adrenal tumour.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography