Adrenal incidentaloma: A puzzle for clinician
Open Access
- 1 January 2013
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Medknow in Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Vol. 17 (7), 59-63
- https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.119507
Abstract
An adrenal incidentaloma (AI) is a puzzle for clinician. In the era of widespread use of CT and MRI, it is becoming an increasingly frequent diagnosis. A detailed list of investigations is ordered to diagnose pathology responsible for AI. Most likely etiology of AI is pathology of AI is benign non-functional adenoma. But looking to the need of specific preoperative preparation for functional adrenal adenoma and importance of early diagnosis in adrenal carcinoma, a complete workup is essential. CT scan of adrenals with contrast gives maximum information about nature of lesion. In general, a lesion more than 6cm or a functioning AI or tumor signal intensity of more than 10HU on unenhanced image, significant enhancement on contrast and deenhancement in signal intensity of less than 50% is suggestive of carcinoma and must be removed. Those AI which are left for observation, also needs regular testing and if found functional on subsequent follow-up or if their size enlarge, they must be removed.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Aldosteronomas—State of the ArtSurgical Clinics of North America, 2009
- The Incidentally Discovered Adrenal MassThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2007
- Primary aldosteronism—careful investigation is essential and rewardingMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2004
- Primary Aldosteronism and Hypertensive DiseaseHypertension, 2003
- MANAGEMENT APPROACHES TO ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMASEndocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 2000
- MANAGEMENT APPROACHES TO ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMASEndocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 2000
- ADRENAL MASSEndocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 1997
- An imaging algorithm for the differential diagnosis of adrenal adenomas and metastases.American Journal of Roentgenology, 1995
- Adrenal nonhyperfunctioning adenoma and nonadenoma: CT attenuation value as discriminative indexAbdominal Radiology, 1995
- CT and MR Distinction of Adenomas and Nonadenomas of the Adrenal GlandJournal of Computer Assisted Tomography, 1994