title: Volumetric and densitometric evaluation of the adrenal glands in patients with primary aldosteronism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate volumetric and densitometric properties of the adrenal glands in patients with unilateral and bilateral disease in comparison with normal controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 77 patients (56 males and 21 females) diagnosed with primary aldosteronism (PA) with a mean age of 53 ± 10 years were prospectively enrolled. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans were analysed for adrenal volumes and mean densities. These values were compared with normal controls and between PA subtypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adrenals containing an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA, n = 56) had on average higher attenuation values as compared to adrenals with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (n = 21). Mean adrenal gland volume in PA patients was not significantly different between PA subtypes. In comparison with normal adrenal glands, volumes were significantly higher in PA patients (P < 0·0001) including adrenals contralateral to APAs, which were significantly larger in comparison with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent of subtype differentiation, adrenal volumetry reveals higher adrenal volumes in PA patients in comparison with normal controls. These findings provide indirect evidence for a general adrenal growth dysregulation in the context of PA.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Degenhart
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneller
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osswald
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pallauf
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riester
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reincke
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beuschlein
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone