[Radiodiagnostic problems in adrenal diseases]

Effectivity of radiodiagnosis has been analyzed in 158 patients with adrenal disease, among them 112 and 117 hormone-active tumors, while 46 subjects had 54 hormone-inactive tumors. Computed tomography proved more sensitive in detection of hormone-active tumors and hyperplasia of the adrenals than ultrasonography (97% versus 62%). Radioimmunoassay of the blood outflowing from the adrenals adjuvant to their venography appeared informative in 18 out of 21 procedures. Computed tomography was also more effective in identification of adrenal hormone-inactive tumors (adenomas, metastases, cancer, etc.), its sensitivity being 100% against 44% for ultrasonography. In large-size tumors aortography only warrants determination of the tumor organic origin reliably. The diagnostic model is proposed for adrenal diseases. It uses stage-by-stage and purposeful application of radiologic investigations.