Background: We reported the application of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in the local staging of lung cancer. Up to 16% of patients with lung cancer may have adrenal masses. The role of EUS in the characterization of the adrenal gland, as well as EUS-guided FNA of the adrenal gland, has not been described.
Methods: The adrenal gland was characterized by EUS in 30 of 31 (97%) patients. EUS-guided FNA of an adrenal was performed in one patient. Anatomic correlation and ex vivo images were obtained.
Results: The average dimension was 2.5 cm (range 1.4 to 3.5) x 0.8 cm (range 0.3 to 1.4) with two morphologic types: "seagull" and "elliptical." One patient with lung cancer and a left adrenal mass with a nondiagnostic CT-guided FNA underwent EUS-guided FNA, which established the diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Surgery was avoided.
Conclusions: The left adrenal can be imaged by EUS in almost all patients. EUS-guided FNA may be useful when applied to left adrenal metastatic tumors for tissue diagnosis.