title: EUS-FNA of the left adrenal gland is safe and useful.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are limited data on the use of endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) to determine the nature of left adrenal lesions. We described our experience in performing EUS-FNA of left adrenal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 20-week period, data on consecutive patients who underwent EUS with or without EUS-FNA were prospectively captured. Patients with a left adrenal mass and who underwent EUS-FNA formed our study population.
  
  
  METHODS
  EUS-FNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 119 consecutive patients underwent diagnostic EUS +/- FNA, during which the left adrenal gland was routinely examined. Twelve of these patients underwent EUS as part of lung cancer staging and among these 12 lung cancer patients, 2 had left adrenal masses detected by computed tomography (CT). EUS detected left adrenal nodules in 2 other patients which were not visualised by CT. The overall prevalence of a left adrenal mass was 3.4%; in the subgroup with confirmed lung cancer, the prevalence was 33.3%. All 4 patients were male, with a mean age of 76.3 years (range, 67 to 87). The mean size of the left adrenal lesion was 30.4 mm (range, 9 to 84.8). EUS-FNA of the left adrenal lesions was performed under Doppler guidance. The mean number of needle passes was 2 (range, 1 to 4). A cellular aspirate was obtained in all patients. No procedural complications occurred. Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer was diagnosed in 2 patients, including a lesion missed on CT. For the other 2 cases, EUS-FNA revealed benign adrenal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS-FNA appears safe and useful for the evaluation of left adrenal masses.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Tiing Leong
authors: TL
authors: Ang
authors: Tju Siang
authors: TS
authors: Chua
authors: Kwong Ming
authors: KM
authors: Fock
authors: Augustine K H
authors: AK
authors: Tee
authors: Eng Kiong
authors: EK
authors: Teo
authors: Kent
authors: K
authors: Mancer
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019160:Endosonography / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012846:Singapore