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Ultrasound of the adrenal gland in children
Tobi Sm Aderotimi1, Jeannette K Kraft1
1Clarendon Wing Radiology Department, Leeds Children's Hospital, The Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
Insights
Ultrasound is the primary imaging tool for evaluating adrenal lesions and masses in children, offering insights into congenital conditions and age-related changes. Further correlation is needed for definitive diagnosis of adrenal masses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Endocrinology
Background:
- Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for neonates and young children with suspected adrenal lesions, such as adrenal hemorrhage and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- It serves as the initial imaging approach for pediatric patients presenting with upper abdominal masses, which may originate from the adrenal gland.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate adrenal anatomy and age-related sonographic changes in children.
- To review the imaging characteristics of congenital adrenal lesions, and both benign and malignant adrenal conditions in childhood.
Main Methods:
- Review of sonographic features of adrenal anatomy and pathology in pediatric patients.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical presentation and age-specific changes.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound effectively demonstrates adrenal anatomy and its age-dependent sonographic variations.
- The modality aids in identifying congenital adrenal lesions and various benign and malignant conditions affecting the pediatric adrenal gland.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound is a valuable primary imaging modality for assessing the pediatric adrenal gland and associated abdominal masses.
- Understanding age-related adrenal gland changes is crucial for accurate interpretation. Differentiation of adrenal masses often requires correlation with biochemical data, multimodality imaging, and histology.
Abstract:
Ultrasound is the modality of choice in the evaluation of neonates and young children with suspected adrenal lesions including adrenal haemorrhage and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is also the initial imaging modality in children presenting with an upper abdominal mass, which may be adrenal in origin. Topic discussion: This paper shows adrenal anatomy and demonstrates how the sonographic features change with age. It reviews the imaging features of congenital adrenal lesions, as well as benign and malignant conditions affecting the adrenal gland in childhood. Discussion and Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful primary imaging modality in the assessment of the adrenal gland in children. Knowledge of the changes of the adrenal gland with age is important when assessing the adrenal gland. Ultrasound is also useful for assessing abdominal masses. However, it cannot differentiate adrenal masses, therefore correlation with biochemical findings, multimodality imaging, and histology is usually required.
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