Morphological and functional imaging of adrenal glands
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2013, Vol 26, Issue 11
Abstract
In this article we present a short review of available techniques used in adrenal imaging and discuss basal imaging features enabling differentiation between malignant and benign lesions. Ultrasound examination is usable only for preliminary assessment of adrenal glands and it can’t be used alone when focal lesions are found. The most often used and the most useful method for assessment of adrenal lesions is computed tomography (CT), in which so called imaging phenotype of tumor can be assessed (benign or suspicious). The evaluation of the radiation attenuation coefficient, i.e. so-called density, is the most important element of the description of CT scans of the tumor. A tumour with a benign imaging phenotype has a low density (≤ 10 HU) – it means that the lipids percentage in it is high and the lesion is lipid-rich adenoma or myelolipoma. In the tumors with higher density further assessment after intravenous administration of contrast medium is necessary. A moderate enhancement, followed by a rapid contrast medium washout from the tumour occurs in benign adenomas, lack of enhancement is typical for also benign cysts. Magnetic resonance imaging is used in cases when in CT the character of tumor can’t be evaluated. This method, showing accurately intracellular lipids, may help distinguishing adrenal carcinomas (trace amount of lipids) from phaeochromocytomas or metastases (no lipids at all). Scintigrapic methods are functional – using the specific tracers we can assess the character and rate of metabolic processes in tumor or presence of specific receptors in it.
Authors and Affiliations
Lucyna Papierska, Karolina Nowak
Keywords
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