Radiology of the adrenal incidentalomas. Review of the literature

Endocr Regul. 2017 Jan 1;51(1):35-51. doi: 10.1515/enr-2017-0005.

Abstract

The term "adrenal incidentaloma" is a radiological term. Adrenal incidentalomas are adrenal tumors discovered in an imaging study that has been obtained for indications exclusive to adrenal conditions (Udelsman 2001; Linos 2003; Bulow et al. 2006; Anagnostis et al. 2009). This definition excludes patients undergoing imaging testing as part of staging and work-up for cancer (Grumbach et al. 2003; Anagnostis et al. 2009). Papierska et al. (2013) have added the prerequisite that the size of a tumor must be "greater than 1cm in diameter", in order to be called incidentaloma. Although in the most cases these masses are non-hypersecreting and benign, they still represent an important clinical concern because of the risk of malignancy or hormone hyperfunction (Barzon et al. 2003). Th e adrenal tumors belong to the commonest incidental findings having been discovered (Kanagarajah et al. 2012).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
  • Addison Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenal Gland Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cushing Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / diagnostic imaging
  • Indium
  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Lymphoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Myelolipoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Octreotide
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Indium
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
  • Octreotide

Supplementary concepts

  • Adrenal incidentaloma