Imaging of adrenal masses.
Most adrenal masses are detected on CT scans, but only a minority has morphologic features that are characteristic of a specific histologic diagnosis. In patients with clinical or biochemical features of a hyperfunctioning adrenal syndrome, CT detection of a unilateral adrenal mass typically leads to surgical resection, although functional assessment of the mass with iodomethylnorcholesterol or MIBG scintigraphy sometimes is used to augment the CT findings. In patients with a nonhyperfunctioning adrenal mass, chemical shift MR and CT densitometry have begun to replace percutaneous adrenal biopsy or serial follow-up CT as methods to establish a specific diagnosis. In this article the authors review the clinical features and imaging findings of patients with known or suspected adrenal masses.
Korobkin
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA.
Francis
I R
IR
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D001706:Biopsy; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods