[Computerized tomography in adrenal diseases with excessive production of hormones]

Abstract

In 41 patients with adrenal diseases and hormonal excess (pheochromocytoma n = 9, Cushing's syndrome n = 6, primary aldosteronism n = 26) computer tomography was performed for localization and classification of the adrenal lesion(s). In all patients diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. In all patients with pheochromocytoma a tumor was detected. 8 patients had unilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma, whereas in one female patient the pheochromocytoma was multilocular. 4 of the 6 patients with hypothalamic-pituitary Cushing's syndrome had enlargement of the adrenals. In the 26 patients with primary aldosteronism, computed tomography showed normal adrenal glands in 2 of the 17 patients with unilateral adenoma (with a diameter of 8 mm in both of the 2 patients) and in 6 of the 9 patients with bilateral hyperplasia. In the remaining patients adenoma or hyperplasia was detected. The results document that in patients with pheochromocytoma, with Cushing's syndrome, and in those with primary aldosteronism, computed tomography is a simple and valid method for localization and classification of the adrenal lesion(s). In primary aldosteronism with a normal adrenal computed tomography, however, differentiation between a small unilateral adrenal adenoma and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia remains problematic.