Learning objectives
Describe the main imaging characteristics of adrenal pathology and its histological correlation.
Background
The adrenals glands are bilateral retroperitoneal organs located in the perirenal space, with an inverted V or Y morphology.
At present, with the increasing use of radiological tests, especially computed tomography (CT), there has been a significant increase in the detection of incidental adrenal lesions, known as adrenal incidentalomas. The vast majority correspond to benign lesions, predominantly adenomas and myelolipomas. However, in cancer patients the probability of metastasis is substantially increased.
The role of these imaging modalities lies in the detection and characterization of adrenal...
Findings and procedure details
To carry out a differential diagnosis (DDX) with a practical approach, we will include adrenal lesions into four groups according to their radiological appearance: small adrenal masses, large solid masses, and cystic lesions.
The general characteristics of adrenal pathology and the histology are explained in the body of the text. Most of the radiological findings are explained in the images through examples.
1. SMALL MASSES [Fig 2]
1.1) ADENOMA:
It is the most frequent adrenal tumor, representing a common finding in CT and magnetic resonance...
Conclusion
Radiologists play a fundamental role in the detection and characterization of adrenal lesions in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Ultrasound, CT, and MRI allow the diagnosis in most cases.
Consequently, it is crucial to know the main imaging findings to differentiate benign from malignant masses and guide the differential diagnosis that allows adequate patient therapeutic management.
Personal information and conflict of interest
A. M. H. Hernández García-Calvo:
Nothing to disclose
C. Sánchez Muñoz:
Nothing to disclose
C. Ruiz De Castañeda Zamora:
Nothing to disclose
M. J. Risco Fernández:
Nothing to disclose
X. Aragón:
Nothing to disclose
I. Cifuentes García:
Nothing to disclose
M. M. Merideño García:
Nothing to disclose
A. Calero Ortega:
Nothing to disclose
E. F. Berríos:
Nothing to disclose
References
1. Mayo-Smith W.W, Boland G.W, Noto R.B, Lee M.J. State-of-the-art adrenal imaging. Radiographics. 2001; 21: 995-1012. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiographics.21.4.g01jl21995
2. Ctvrtlík F, Herman M, Student V, Tichá V, Minarík J. Differential diagnosis of incidentally detected adrenal masses revealed on routine abdominal CT. Eur J Radiol 2009;69(2):243–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2007.11.041
3. Park SH, Kim MJ, Kim JH, Lim JS, Kim KW. Differentiation of adrenal adenoma and nonadenoma in unenhanced CT: new optimal threshold value and the usefulness of size criteria for differentiation. Korean J Radiol 2007;8(4):328–335. https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2007.8.4.328
4. Albano D,...