Adrenal incidentalomas--analysis of 23 cases discovered by ultrasound

Frequent use of abdominal ultrasonography (USG) increases discovery of incidental adrenal tumors. Our experience and concise review of recent opinions on management of adrenal incidentalomas is presented. In four out of 23 patients with adrenal incidentalomas false positivity of USG was found (all on the left side), 4 cases were identified as pseudoadrenal masses. Hormonal activity was proved in 4 out of 15 true adrenal masses (2 pheochromocytomass, 2 aldosteronomas). Five out of 11 hormonally inactive tumors were benign adenomass, 2 myelolipomas, 2 simple cysts, 1 metastasis of bronchogenic carcinoma and 1 tuberculotic involvement. The smallest tumor was aldosteronoma (2 cm in diameter), the largest was myelolipoma (more than 10 cm). Size of benign adenomas ranged between 2.5-4.8 cm. Three main ultrasonic patterns of adrenal tumors were recognized: (1) anechogenic cysts, (2) complex but predominantly hyperechogenic myelolipomas, (3) hypoechogenic all other masses.