Differential diagnosis of adrenal masses using out-of-phase FLASH imaging. A preliminary report

The purpose of this report was to suggest the ability to differentiate adrenal masses by out-of-phase FLASH imaging. The images were obtained with breath-holding at TR/TE 100/12 ms, flip angle 20 degrees. The material included adrenal adenoma (n = 16), nodular hyperplasia (n = 1), pheochromocytoma (n = 5), and adrenal metastatic tumors (n = 7). The signal intensity ratios of the adrenal mass/the diaphragmatic crus, back muscle, and renal cortex were obtained. The mean values of the ratios of adenomas or nodular hyperplasia were significantly different from pheochromocytomas or metastases. Although the number of adrenal masses was fairly small, the ratios of adrenal mass/diaphragmatic crus could distinguish them with no overlapping case. All 17 masses with the ratio of 1.16 or less were adenomas or nodular hyperplasia, whereas all 12 masses with a ratio greater than 1.23 were pheochromocytomas or metastases. This result suggests the ability of out-of-phase FLASH imaging to differentiate adrenal masses.