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[Adrenal macrotumor diagnosed by computed tomography. Clinical experience of 33 cases]
J M López1, I E Cárdenas, C Fardella
1Facultad de Medicina, P Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago.
Background:
Adrenal tumors of more than 6 cm diameter, also called macrotumors, cause diagnostic and therapeutic problems.
Aim:
To perform an analysis of adrenal macrotumors diagnosed by CAT scan between 1984 and 1995.
Patients And Methods:
Thirty three patients aged 9 to 86 years old, 15 female, with an adrenal macrotumor diagnosed by CAT scan, were analyzed.
Results:
Thirty percent of tumors were functioning (70% secreted cathecolamines and 30% cortisol). Eighty two percent had an adrenal localization and 18% were para-adrenal. Thirty four percent were malignant. These tumors were mostly non functioning, 70% occurred in men and 67% were metastatic.
Conclusions:
Most adrenal macrotumors in this series were non functioning and 36% were malignant.