[Echo-guided adrenal needle biopsy in the staging of lung tumors. Preliminary evaluation]

In patients with lung tumors adrenal masses can represent metastases, hyperplasia, adenoma or other benign lesions, most of which can be asymptomatic. Although the sensibility of US and CT in the diagnosis of adrenal metastases is very high, their specificity is somehow less satisfactory. The risk of overstaging operable pulmonary tumors is therefore present. US-guided FNB can yield material enough for cytologic and, in some cases, histologic evaluation, thus offering a reliable solution to the clinical problem in selected cases. Our experience with US-guided percutaneous mono or bilateral FNB of adrenal masses with Chiba and/or Otto needles in 14 patients with pulmonary neoplasms is reported. The use of Otto needle is suggested in the largest adrenal masses or when histology of the primary neoplasm is unknown. Bilateral cytological FNB is suggested in borderline lesions.