Computed Tomography Characterization of Adrenal Neoplasm

• Main Authors: H.А. Аlimukhamedova, Z.Yu. Khalimova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House Zaslavsky 2015-09-01
• Series: Mìžnarodnij Endokrinologìčnij Žurnal
• Subjects: adrenal masses; computed tomography; aldosteronoma; corticosteroma; pheochromocytoma
• Online Access: http://iej.zaslavsky.com.ua/article/view/72642
• ISSN: 2224-0721; 2307-1427

The objective of the research was to study computed tomography characteristics of adrenal masses. The study involved 98 patients with adrenal neoplasm. Patients underwent clinical-biochemical, hormonal studies, computed tomography of the adrenal glands. In patients with adrenal masses up to 1 cm (n = 57), the length of the adrenal gland was 3.00 ± 0.26/3.06 ± 0.22 cm, which is significantly higher compared with controls (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.001), respectively on the left and on the right. Densitometric parameters of these structures ranged from 27.10 ± 1.59 to 34.86 ± 2.20 on the left and from 25.30 ± 1.32 to 38.13 ± 3.06 on the right and averaged 39.10 ± 1.87 HU. Patients with neoplasm from 1 to 3 cm (n = 17) were significantly different from the healthy controls, but did not differ from the other two groups. Density indicators of these masses varied from 27.40 ± 3.14 HU to 40.80 ± 3.68 HU and averaged 34.10 ± 3.62 HU. In patients with large adrenal neoplasm (n = 24), they have a considerable density, significantly increased in comparison with both controls and two previous groups. Masses originated from pathologically changed, diffusely hyperplastic adrenal tissue, characterized by thickening of the pedicles, increasing the length of up to 3.10 ± 0.38 cm. Corticosteroma is characterized by a significant, relative decrease in the density of neoplasm, density and sizes of the adrenal glands, compared with patients whose cortisol level was normal. In patients with aldosteroma, adrenal sizes were larger, their density variation also prevailed, and density of neoplasm was a peculiar one. Patients with pheochromocytoma, excepting significant upward deviations in the length, thickness and height of adrenal glands on both sides, had adrenal mass which density was difficult to distinguish.