The adrenal incidentaloma: guidelines for evaluation and recommendations for management

Abstract

Adrenal masses are identified incidentally on up to 1.5% of all abdominal CT scans. The appropriate evaluation and management of these "incidentalomas" remains controversial and centers on questions of function and potential for malignancy. Functional evaluation includes consideration of the diagnoses of aldosteronoma, pheochromocytoma, and corticosteroid-producing adenoma. Potential for malignancy can be evaluated using a number of imaging modalities, although none is diagnostic. Size remains one of the best criteria for assessing potential for malignancy.