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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
[Adrenal lesions in patients of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1]
Yan Zhu1, Hua-bing Zhang, Lin Lu
1Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Ministry of Health, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of adrenal lesions in Chinese multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) patients.
Methods:
Adrenal CT scan and clinical manifestations were retrospectively reviewed in 32 consecutive MEN-1 patients who were evaluated at our hospital during January 1986 to December 2009.
Results:
Adrenal lesions were identified in 16 of 32 (50%) MEN-1 patients. Five (31.3%) patents with adrenal involvement showed bilateral lesions, including bilateral adenoma (n=1), bilateral hyperplasia (n=2) and adenoma and hyperplasia on each side (n=2). Unilateral adrenal lesion was presented in 11 (68.7%) patients. Among which, 63.6% had adenomas with a mean diameter of 2.3 cm (0.8-4.0 cm) and the remainder was of hyperplasia or enlargement. In two patients, functioning adrenal abnormalities were detected including Cushing adenoma (n=1) and aldosterone-secreting adenoma (n=1).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of adrenal lesion in MEN-1 patient is similar between China and western countries. These tumors are mostly benign, small and nonfunctioning. Taking into account a high incidence of adrenal carcinoma in previous foreign studies, routine screening and close surveillance are still recommended for adrenal lesions in MEN-1 patients.
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