Adrenal incidentalomas and cardiometabolic morbidity: an emerging association with serious clinical implications

Abstract

Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) represent adrenal masses that are incidentally discovered whilst investigating symptoms and signs unrelated to adrenal pathology. The onset and natural course of AIs are unknown, and the possible underlying cardiometabolic abnormalities have not been examined in depth. A growing body of clinical and experimental evidence supports the notion that both functioning and, paradoxically, nonfunctioning AIs are associated with a partially expressed or even full-blown metabolic syndrome (MS) phenotype, through yet unclear mechanisms. Subtle, subclinical or even profound adrenal hormone excess and an increased proinflammatory state might explain to some extent the development of MS disturbances. The emerging association between AIs and MS appears to be important in determining the optimal clinical management of these patients and raises speculation about the exact mechanisms of this interesting cause-effect relationship.