Disappearing adrenal masses

Adrenal incidentalomas are a common finding due to the increasing use and improved technology of imaging studies. The majority of these enlargements are non-functional and irreversible. Publications on reversible adrenal enlargement are sparse. Our patient, a 66-year-old man, was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal discomfort. He was treated for rectal carcinoma 3 years before, and was now free of disease. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed no abnormalities other than the incidental finding of bilateral adrenal enlargement. Metastasis was suspected. The CEA-level, however, was within normal range and there was no evidence of hormonal overproduction. After 1 month the patient was reviewed. Physical examination and laboratory testing were normal. Surprisingly, the CT-scan showed a decreased size of both adrenals and after 3 months even showed completely normalized adrenals. Reversible adrenal enlargements are rare. Commonly described causes of adrenal enlargement are haematomas, cystic lesions and infections of the adrenal glands. The patient in this case did not show any clinical, laboratory or radiological signs of any of these diagnoses. The current existing differential diagnosis for bilateral adrenal enlargement is not sufficient to explain the findings in our patient.