[Computerized tomography findings score in the differentiation of adrenal tumors in patients with extra-adrenal malignomas].
OBJECTIVE
In a retrospective study the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography for the differentiation of benign from malignant adrenal masses in patients with extra-adrenal malignancies was evaluated. For this differentiation a new score system was tested.


METHODS
Size, density, structure, and borders of adrenal masses in 60 patients with extra-adrenal tumours were analysed and scored. The single criteria and the total score values were correlated with the final diagnosis achieved either by histology or by follow-up CT examinations.


RESULTS
Score values above 4 indicated always metastases and score values below 2 were benign lesions. An overlap occurred at score values between 2 and 3 resulting in an overall accuracy of 83.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Single CT criteria are not reliable enough to differentiate benign from malignant adrenal lesions: better results are achieved by using our scoring system.
Gufler
H
H
Abteilung Röntgendiagnostik der Radiologischen Klinik, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg.
Buitrago-Tellez
C H
CH
Laubenberger
J
J
Tanyü
M O
MO
Mundinger
A
A
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed