Ces radiol. 2020, 74(3):202-210 | DOI: 10.55095/CesRadiol2020/031

CT findings of the most common adrenal tumours - pictorial essayPicture essay

Filip Čtvrtlík¹, Jakub Čivrný¹, Paulína Szász¹, František Odstrčil², Zbyněk Tudos¹

¹ Radiologická klinika LF UP a FN, Olomouc

² Ústav radiologických metod, Fakulta zdravotnických věd LF UP a FN, Olomouc

The authors provide a summary of common adrenal gland tumours encountered in radiology, with an emphasis on CT findings. The first to be mentioned is adrenal adenoma, which is the most common pathological finding of adrenals and which is often incidental. Its lipid-rich variant has a typical imaging pattern. Other benign adrenal gland tumours include myelolipoma, which also has typical imaging characteristics, and pheochromocytoma, which may show certain warning CT features, which should draw our attention towards this entity, which often manifests with hypertension. Adrenocortical carcinoma, which has a high case fatality rate and tends to be large, is a very aggressive adrenal gland tumour. Adrenal gland metastases mark the dissemination of carcinoma, which usually has epithelial origin. Unfortunately, metastases have variable characteristics, including their size. The ability to recognise these nosologic entities is important for further management as some of them do not require treatment or follow-up, while, on the contrary, some demand an active therapeutic approach.

Keywords: adenoma, myelolipoma, pheochromocytoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, metastases, computed tomography

Grants and funding:

Podpořeno z programového projektu Ministerstva zdravotnictví ČR reg. č. 17-31847A a vnitřním grantem Univerzity Palackého reg. č. IGA_LF_2020_012. 1c

Accepted: August 1, 2020; Published: September 1, 2020  Show citation