title: Adrenal tumors with unexpected outcome: a review of the literature.
abstract: The finding of an adrenal mass should induce a diagnostic work-up aimed at assessing autonomous hormone production and differentiating between benign and (potentially) malignant lesions. The common differential diagnosis in adrenal incidentaloma consists of (non-)functioning adenoma, pheochromocytoma, myelolipoma, metastasis, and primary carcinoma. There remains a category of lesions that are hormonally inactive and display nonspecific imaging characteristics. We provide a succinct literature review regarding pathologies from this category. Imaging and histological characteristics are discussed, as well as clinical management. In conclusion, an adrenal mass may present a diagnostic challenge. After exclusion of most common diagnoses, it can be difficult to differentiate between possible pathologies based on preoperative diagnostic tests. Surgical resection of possibly harmful tumors is indicated, for example, lesions with malignant potential or risk of spontaneous hemorrhage. Resection of an obviously benign lesion is not necessary, unless problems due to tumor size are expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Máxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kerkhofs
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Máxima Medical Center, De Run 4600, 5504 DB Veldhoven, The Netherlands ; Research School GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rudi M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roumen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stichting PAMM, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Demeyere
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Máxima Medical Center, De Run 4600, 5504 DB Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Antoine N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Máxima Medical Center, Ds. Th. Fliednerstraat 1, 5631 BM Eindhoven, The Netherlands ; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands ; Department of Health Services Research and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harm R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Haak