[A clinical analysis of 103 cases of adrenal incidentaloma].
OBJECTIVE
To improve the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal incidentaloma (AI).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 103 AI patients in PUMC Hospital from 1994 to 2002.


RESULTS
Of the 103 cases (43 men and 60 women), most patients were 40-60 years old. Eighty-five cases (82.5%) were benign masses, of which 36 (35.0%) were non-functional adrenal cortical adenoma, and 12 (11.7%) were pheochromocytoma, 1 (1%) was Cushing's syndrome and 1 for aldosteronomas. Three cases did not show clinical feature and the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma were based on 131I-MIBG. Among 18 (17.5%) malignant tumors, adrenal carcinomas account for the majority (8 cases, 7.8%). Patients with malignant masses were significantly younger than patients with adenomas (P < 0.05), and the adenomas were significantly smaller than malignancy (P < 0.001). A cut-off at 4.0 cm of tumor mass size was set for differentiating benign and malignant tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
During the diagnosis of AI, it's essential to evaluate hormonal activity and assess for the risk of malignancy. If the mass size is 4 cm or larger, the risk of malignancy increases. More attention should be paid to subclinical hyperfunctional state.
Tao
Hong
H
Department of Endocrinology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS, PUMC, Beijing 100730, China. vivientao@yahoo.com
Lu
Zhao-lin
ZL
Li
Han-zhong
HZ
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies