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Multicenter Study
. 2020 Sep;8(9):773-781.
doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30218-7. Epub 2020 Jul 23.

Urine steroid metabolomics for the differential diagnosis of adrenal incidentalomas in the EURINE-ACT study: a prospective test validation study

Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Urine steroid metabolomics for the differential diagnosis of adrenal incidentalomas in the EURINE-ACT study: a prospective test validation study

Irina Bancos et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Cross-sectional imaging regularly results in incidental discovery of adrenal tumours, requiring exclusion of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However, differentiation is hampered by poor specificity of imaging characteristics. We aimed to validate a urine steroid metabolomics approach, using steroid profiling as the diagnostic basis for ACC.

Methods: We did a prospective multicentre study in adult participants (age ≥18 years) with newly diagnosed adrenal masses. We assessed the accuracy of diagnostic imaging strategies based on maximum tumour diameter (≥4 cm vs <4 cm), imaging characteristics (positive vs negative), and urine steroid metabolomics (low, medium, or high risk of ACC), separately and in combination, using a reference standard of histopathology and follow-up investigations. With respect to imaging characteristics, we also assessed the diagnostic utility of increasing the unenhanced CT tumour attenuation threshold from the recommended 10 Hounsfield units (HU) to 20 HU.

Findings: Of 2169 participants recruited between Jan 17, 2011, and July 15, 2016, we included 2017 from 14 specialist centres in 11 countries in the final analysis. 98 (4·9%) had histopathologically or clinically and biochemically confirmed ACC. Tumours with diameters of 4 cm or larger were identified in 488 participants (24·2%), including 96 of the 98 with ACC (positive predictive value [PPV] 19·7%, 95% CI 16·2-23·5). For imaging characteristics, increasing the unenhanced CT tumour attenuation threshold to 20 HU from the recommended 10 HU increased specificity for ACC (80·0% [95% CI 77·9-82·0] vs 64·0% [61·4-66.4]) while maintaining sensitivity (99·0% [94·4-100·0] vs 100·0% [96·3-100·0]; PPV 19·7%, 16·3-23·5). A urine steroid metabolomics result indicating high risk of ACC had a PPV of 34·6% (95% CI 28·6-41·0). When the three tests were combined, in the order of tumour diameter, positive imaging characteristics, and urine steroid metabolomics, 106 (5·3%) participants had the result maximum tumour diameter of 4 cm or larger, positive imaging characteristics (with the 20 HU cutoff), and urine steroid metabolomics indicating high risk of ACC, for which the PPV was 76·4% (95% CI 67·2-84·1). 70 (3·5%) were classified as being at moderate risk of ACC and 1841 (91·3%) at low risk (negative predictive value 99·7%, 99·4-100·0).

Interpretation: An unenhanced CT tumour attenuation cutoff of 20 HU should replace that of 10 HU for exclusion of ACC. A triple test strategy of tumour diameter, imaging characteristics, and urine steroid metabolomics improves detection of ACC, which could shorten time to surgery for patients with ACC and help to avoid unnecessary surgery in patients with benign tumours.

Funding: European Commission, UK Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research, US National Institutes of Health, the Claire Khan Trust Fund at University Hospitals Birmingham Charities, and the Mayo Clinic Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study profile
Figure 2
Figure 2
Imaging test results Maximum tumour diameter in patients with ACC (A), other malignant tumours (B), ACA (C), and other benign tumours (D) and distributions of patients with ACC according to positive or negative results for tumour diameter and imaging characteristics with unenhanced CT tumour attenuation cutoff of 10 HU (E) or 20 HU (F). ACA=adrenocortical adenoma. ACC=adrenocortical carcinoma. HU=Hounsfield units.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Diagnostic accuracy of single-test and multiple-test strategies for detecting ACC (A) Diagnostic accuracy of the three index tests (tumour diameter, imaging characteristics [unenhanced CI attenuation >20 HU], and urine steroid metabolomics) as single tests, in double combinations, and as a triple-test strategy. (B) Flowchart illustrating the distribution of ACC cases when applying the triple-test strategy in the order: tumour diameter, imaging characteristics (unenhanced CT attenuation >20 HU), and urine steroid metabolomics. ACC=adrenocortical carcinoma. HU=Hounsfield units. ImChar=imaging characteristics. USM-HR=urine steroid metabolomics profile indicating high risk of ACC. USM-LR=urine steroid metabolomics profile indicating low risk of ACC. USM-MR=urine steroid metabolomics profile indicating moderate risk of ACC.

Comment in

References

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts