Quantitative evaluation of norcholesterol scintigraphy, CT attenuation value, and chemical-shift MR imaging for characterizing adrenal adenomas.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate diagnostic ability and features of quantitative indices of three modalities: uptake rate on norcholesterol scintigraphy, computed tomography (CT) attenuation value, and fat suppression on chemical-shift magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for characterizing adrenal adenomas.


METHODS
Image findings of norcholesterol scintigraphy, CT, and MRI were reviewed for 78 patients with functioning (n = 48) or nonfunctioning (n = 30) adrenal masses. The norcholesterol uptake rate, attenuation value on unenhanced CT, and suppression on in-phase to opposed-phase MRI were measured for adrenal masses.


RESULTS
The norcholesterol uptake rate, CT attenuation value, and MR suppression index showed the sensitivity of 60%, 82%, and 100%, respectively, for functioning adenomas of <2.0 cm, and 96%, 79%, and 67%, respectively, for those of >or=2.0 cm. A statistically significant correlation was observed between size and norcholesterol uptake, and between CT attenuation value and MR suppression index. Regarding norcholesterol uptake, the adenoma-to-contralateral gland ratio was significantly higher in cortisol releasing than in aldosterone-releasing adenomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The norcholesterol uptake rate was reliable for characterization of adenomas among adrenal masses of >or=2.0 cm. CT attenuation value and MR suppression index were well correlated with each other, and were useful regardless of mass size.
Yoh
Teruaki
T
Department of Radiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
Hosono
Makoto
M
Komeya
Yoshihiro
Y
Im
Sung-Woon
SW
Ashikaga
Ryuichiro
R
Shimono
Taro
T
Tsuchiya
Norio
N
Okada
Masahiro
M
Hanada
Kazushi
K
Yagyu
Yukinobu
Y
Nishimura
Yasumasa
Y
Murakami
Takamichi
T
D015071:19-Iodocholesterol; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015071:19-Iodocholesterol