Predictive Factors of Functioning Adrenal Incidentaloma: A 15-Year Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: Adrenal incidentaloma is an adrenal mass that is found incidentally in abdominal imaging studies. It is important to categorize whether the mass is a functioning or non-functioning incidentaloma to determine the appropriate management and follow-up. Our study aimed to identify predictive factors for functioning adrenal incidentaloma that could assist in early detection and in determining which patients may require hormonal investigations. Materials and methods: This 15-year retrospective study was performed in a tertiary care medical center. A total of 244 patients with adrenal incidentaloma were identified, of whom 88 had functioning adrenal incidentaloma. The patients’ clinical biochemical factors and radiographic parameters were reviewed. Multivariable analysis using logistic regression with backward stepwise selection analysis was performed. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A significant clinical predictor for functioning adrenal incidentaloma is a history of hypertension (OR 2.72, 95% CI(1.53, 4.82)), while significant radiological predictors include mass size >4 cm (OR 2.20, 95% CI(1.20, 4.02)) and Hounsfield units (HU) < 10 (OR 2.47, 95% CI(1.23, 4.94)). Conclusions: These easy-to-obtain clinical and radiological predictors can be used to help identify functioning adrenal incidentaloma. In clinical practice, taking these factors into consideration could potentially reduce the number of investigations required to diagnose functioning adrenal incidentaloma.