Ultrasonically guided fine-needle biopsies from adrenal tumors

Ultrasonically guided fine-needle biopsies were performed from 28 adrenal lesions in 28 patients. In 15 patients adrenal enlargement was an incidental finding. In 17 of 18 (94%) patients with metastatic spread combined cytological and histological examination disclosed secondary malignancy, and in 4 of 5 patients with primary neoplastic disease the combined microscopic examination concluded primary neoplasia. However, it was not possible to classify these lesions as being of a malignant or a benign nature. A false positive diagnosis of a hepatocellular carcinoma of the clear cell type was made in one case. In all 5 patients with non-neoplastic adrenal lesions cytological and histological examinations concluded non-neoplastic disease. Electron microscopy was of special benefit in two cases of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and a pheochromocytoma. Using ultrasonically guided biopsies it is possible to differentiate between adrenal lesions due to metastatic spread and adrenal lesions due to primary neoplasia or non-neoplastic disease. Compared to other imaging techniques ultrasonically guided punctures of adrenal masses is a simple procedure giving important diagnostic information.