[Adrenal macrotumor diagnosed by computed tomography. Clinical experience of 33 cases].
BACKGROUND
Adrenal tumors of more than 6 cm diameter, also called macrotumors, cause diagnostic and therapeutic problems.


OBJECTIVE
To perform an analysis of adrenal macrotumors diagnosed by CAT scan between 1984 and 1995.


METHODS
Thirty three patients aged 9 to 86 years old, 15 female, with an adrenal macrotumor diagnosed by CAT scan, were analyzed.


RESULTS
Thirty percent of tumors were functioning (70% secreted cathecolamines and 30% cortisol). Eighty two percent had an adrenal localization and 18% were para-adrenal. Thirty four percent were malignant. These tumors were mostly non functioning, 70% occurred in men and 67% were metastatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Most adrenal macrotumors in this series were non functioning and 36% were malignant.
López
J M
JM
Facultad de Medicina, P Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago.
Cárdenas
I E
IE
Fardella
C
C
Arteaga
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed