Determination of adrenal volume by MRI in healthy children: associations with age, body size, pubertal stage and serum levels of adrenal androgens.
BACKGROUND
Adrenal disorders such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia result in abnormal adrenal size and morphology, but little is known about the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining adrenal volume.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential usefulness of MR methodology, to estimate adrenal size in healthy children and to evaluate determinants of adrenal volume such as age, gender, body size, pubic hair stage and serum levels of adrenal androgens.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty-five healthy children (116 girls and 119 boys) (age range 10.0-14.8 years) were examined by MRI. Clinical examinations (anthropometry and pubertal staging) were performed, and five androgen metabolites were measured in blood samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).


RESULTS
It was possible to determine adrenal volume in 115/235 children using MRI. The adrenals were not measurable in 51% of children due to breathing and moving artefacts. The median volume of the right adrenal gland was 0.46 ml in girls and 0.46 ml in boys. The median volume of the left adrenal gland was 0.34 ml in girls and 0.40 ml in boys. Adrenal size was positively associated with body surface area (estimate B = 0.34 ml/year, P = 0.03), age (estimate B = 0.05 ml/year, P = 0.021) and pubic hair stage (estimate B = 0.05 ml/stage, P = 0.075). No associations between adrenal size and serum levels of adrenal androgens were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
It was possible to determine adrenal volume by MRI in only 50% of healthy children aged 10-15 years. Adrenal volume increased with age and Tanner stage of pubic hair. Future studies will unravel whether adrenal MRI is useful when evaluating children with adrenal diseases.
Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Annette
A
Mouritsen
Marie Lindhardt
ML
Johansen
Christine
C
Wohlfahrt-Veje
Casper P
CP
Hagen
Jeanette
J
Tinggaard
Mikkel G
MG
Mieritz
Katrine
K
Tefre de Renzy-Martin
Tue
T
Soeborg
Eva
E
Fallentin
Anders
A
Juul
Katharina M
KM
Main
D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000886:Anthropometry; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D000728:Androgens