Ultrasound in the detection of adrenal tumours
Päivänsalo, M.; Merikanto, J.; Kallioinen, M.; McAnsh, G.
European Journal of Radiology 8(3): 183-187
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0720-048X PMID: 3049088 Document Number: 305697
An analysis was made of the ultrasound (US) findings in 110 patients with proven or ultrasonographically suspected adrenal tumours. A total of 212 glands were imaged, 117 of which contained a tumour. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in 50 cases and by imaging and follow-up in 162 cases. Normal glands were visualized ultrasonically in 27 out of 40 glands on the right and 5 out of 55 on the left. US detected 55 out of 59 primary adrenal tumours and 49 out of 58 secondary tumours, showing a sensitivity of 89%. In 13 tumours ultrasonography gave a false negative result, and in 13 cases a false positive one. Benign or primary malignant tumours and metastases could not be differentiated on the basis of echo-structure, but a large heterogeneous tumour in a patient with no known extra-adrenal malignancy is probably a primary malignant adrenal tumour.