Real-Time ultrasound of normal adrenal glands and small tumors

The adrenals were studied prospectively with real-time ultrasound in a series of 60 healthy individuals and 13 patients with small adrenal masses sized 8-20 mm in diameter. In only one of the 60 healthy subjects was a normal adrenal gland delineated as a distinct hypoechoic structure. In all other instances only the highly echogenic suprarenal fat could be displayed. Visualization of small tumors was successful in 12 of 13 patients. The suprarenal area and small lesions were best demonstrated by a lateral intercostal approach using longitudinal and transverse scanning planes. The best access was through the 9th/10th intercostal space at the junction with the anterior and middle axillary lines on the right and the posterior axillary line on the left. Indexing Words : Adrenal gland · Ultrasound.     

Comparative assessment of ultrasonography and computed tomography in adrenal disorders

Comparative diagnostic assessment by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) was performed in each of 17 patients with adrenal disorders. US is better than CT for demonstrating the intratumorous characteristics, the relationship between the tumor and the surrounding organs, and the organ from which large tumors arise, such as pheochromocytoma. On the other hand, CT is better able to detect small adrenal tumors in primary aldosteronism, although US with a sector or linear scanner can also detect small tumors in some cases. Adrenal hyperplasia in both Cushing's disease and congenital adrenogenital syndrome was more easily demonstrated by CT than by US. Of the two US instruments, a sector scanner was more useful in the delineation of the enlarged right nontumorous adrenal by scanning from the right intercostal region, but both scanners were of no use in the delineation of the enlarged nontumorous left adrenal in patients with obesity.     

High-resolution real-time sonography of the adrenal glands: a routine examination?

The feasibility of imaging the adrenal glands during routine upper abdominal examinations was studied for 100 consecutive patients, 47 males and 53 females. The mean patient age was 46 years and the mean weight 63 kg. The suprarenal areas were scanned in a slightly oblique frontal plane through the intercostal spaces with the patient recumbent. The right adrenal gland was detected in 92 per cent of the patients, with a mean examination time of less than one minute. Visualization of the left adrenal gland was more difficult and was successful in only 71 per cent, even where additional views in the right lateral decubitus or erect position were added. The mean examination time on the left was 2 1/2 minutes. Complete visualization of the adrenal gland is impossible in one single plane because of the complex shape of the organ, which necessitates multiple contiguous scan planes. In 13 per cent of the visualized adrenals, cortex and medulla could be differentiated.     

多层螺旋CT及磁共振成像在肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤中的诊断价值

目的 探讨肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤(AML)的多层螺旋CT(MsCT)及磁共振成像(MRI)诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析28例经手术病理证实的AML的MSCT及MRI表现.结果 MSCT扫描显示肾上腺区低密度肿块14例,混杂密度肿块11例,实性肿块2例,双侧肾上腺多发混杂密度肿块1例,12例有钙化,5例有出血及坏死,其中有2例患者混杂密度肿块内既有钙化又有出血及坏死,13例增强扫描无明显强化;19例做MRI检查的患者中,有11例MRI表现为右侧肾上腺区肿决T1wI、TW2I呈均匀或不均匀高信号影,7例表现为左侧肾上腺区肿块T1wI、TW2 I呈均匀或不均匀高信号,1例双侧肾上腺多发病灶者表现为右侧肾上腺T1WI、TW2 I混杂高信号影,左侧多发病灶T1WI、TW2 I呈混杂信号.结论 MSCT及MRI在AML中诊断及鉴别诊断方面具有重要的价值.     

肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤的CT及MRI诊断

目的：探讨肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤的CT及MRI诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析17例经手术病理证实的肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤的CT及MRI表现。结果：CT扫描显示肾上腺区低密度肿块9例，混杂密度肿块7例，实性肿块1例，8例钙化，1例出血，11例增强扫描无明显强化；4例MRI检查示右侧肾上腺区肿块T1WI、T2WI均呈高信号，结论：CT及MRI在诊断肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤中具有重要价值。     

肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤的CT表现

目的 分析肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤的CT表现,提高CT诊断的准确性。方法 本文报道螺旋CT检出的7例肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤并分析其CT征象,包括男性1例,女6例,年龄30-76岁,平均56岁。其中5例肿瘤起源于右侧肾上腺,1例起源于左侧肾上腺,另外1例为双恻性髓样脂肪瘤。结果 CT检查显示所有病例均起源于肾上腺并检出瘤体内脂肪成分,所有瘤体均位于肾上腺内外侧肢夹角的后方。肿瘤中6个以脂肪成分为主,2个以软组织成分为主：3个肿瘤中见点状钙化;2个以软组织成分为主的肿瘤可见完整的包膜,而6个以脂肪成分为主的肿瘤根据CT图象未能显示肿瘤包膜。在3例患者的对侧正常肾上腺周围可见大量脂肪。结论 螺旋CT薄层扫描可提供肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤详细解剖细节,有较高的诊断正确性。     

肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤的CT诊断

目的分析和探讨肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤的CT表现特征及其诊断价值。方法回顾性分析21例经手术病理证实的肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤的CT表现。分析病变位置、形状、大小和病变内有无钙化、出血、脂肪和假包膜及增强后的表现特征等。结果本组共21例,均为单发,15例位于右侧。肾上腺,6例位于左侧。肿瘤最大径线为1．7—11cm,肿瘤多呈圆形或类圆形,病灶内部含有脂肪和髓样成分,CT表现因病灶内所含成分的比例不同而有所差异,其中16例呈脂肪与软组织混合密度,3例以脂肪密度为主,2例以软组织密度为主,无1例肿瘤内部有出血。3例肿瘤边缘可见钙化,所有病例假包膜完整,CT增强后脂肪成分未见明显强化,软组织成分轻度强化。结论肾上腺髓样脂肪瘤有比较典型的CT表现,通过CT平扫及增强扫描一般能做到术前诊断,部分不典型病变术前诊断比较困难,确诊仍依靠病理。     

肾上腺节细胞神经瘤的MSCT表现

目的 探讨肾上腺节细胞神经瘤的MSCT表现。方法 回顾性分析10例经手术病理证实的肾上腺节细胞神经瘤的影像学资料,观察病灶的部位、形态、大小、MSCT表现及周围组织结构的关系,并测量平扫、动脉期、静脉期、延迟期的CT值。结果 所有病例均为单发病灶,其中4例病灶位于左侧肾上腺,6例位于右侧肾上腺,与周围组织结构分界清晰,2例呈椭圆形,6例呈水滴形,2例呈不规则分叶状。MSCT平扫病灶均表现为低密度,3例病灶内部见点状高密度钙化灶;增强扫描动脉期均未见明显强化,静脉期及延迟期病灶边缘或内部可见渐进性强化。平扫、动脉期、静脉期及延迟期病灶的CT值分别为（29.71±9.93） HU、（31.76±9.91） HU、（37.86±10.18） HU及（41.04±10.89） HU。结论 肾上腺节细胞神经瘤的MSCT表现具有一定的特征性,有助于该病的诊断及鉴别诊断。     

成人肾上腺术中超声表现

目的 观察成人肾上腺术中超声（IOUS）表现。方法 收集71例因肝脏、胆道或胰腺病变而接受外科手术治疗患者,观察肾上腺IOUS表现,并与CT/MRI双侧肾上腺显示率和厚度测值进行比较。结果 成人肾上腺IOUS表现为边界清晰、形态不规则的双侧弱回声结构。CT/MRI肾上腺显示率为97.18%（138/142）。IOUS肾上腺显示率为95.07%（135/142）,右侧92.96%（66/71）、左侧97.18%（69/71）,且可见4侧CT/MRI未能显示的肾上腺;IOUS所测肾上腺厚度均大于CT/MRI（P均<0.05）。结论 IOUS中,成人肾上腺表现为边界清晰、形态不规则的双侧弱回声,左侧显示率高于右侧。     

Ultrasound findings in the adreno-genital syndrome (congenital adrenal hyperplasia)

The adreno-genital syndrome (congenital adrenal hyperplasia) is caused by deficiency of an enzyme (usually C-21 hydroxylase) necessary for adrenal production of cortisol, which results in excessive accumulation of androgenic precursors. It is the most common cause of female pseudohermaphroditism. There have been a few sporadic reports of ultrasonic demonstration of enlarged adrenals in the adreno-genital syndrome. To determine whether ultrasonography could be used to establish or exclude the diagnosis, ultrasonic examinations were performed on eight newborn infants with ambiguous genitalia who were subsequently proven to have the adreno-genital syndrome. The adrenals were found to be enlarged in three patients, at the upper limit of normal in three patients, and in two infants the adrenals were well within normal limits in size. The uterus was identified in seven of the eight patients, but was not seen for technical reasons in one. It is concluded that ultrasound is useful in the evaluation of infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia to establish the presence of a uterus and to demonstrate enlargement of the adrenals, but it should be cautioned that finding adrenals of normal size does not exclude the diagnosis. Key words ultrasound, adreno-genital syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia.     

Interventional ultrasound for adrenal masses

Purpose To determine the value of interventional ultrasound (US) for adrenal masses, especially incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Methods Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were reviewed for eight patients who underwent percutaneous US-guided puncture or biopsy for adrenal masses from September 1994 through March 2002 in our institute. Results US-guided intervention was successfully performed for seven patients: two with adrenal cysts, two with adrenocortical adenomas, and three with metastatic adrenal tumors (one from prostate cancer, one from lung cancer, and one from renal cell carcinoma). The remaining patient had bilateral adrenal masses, and a biopsy specimen could not be obtained because safe puncture was difficult. For all patients there was no postoperative hemorrhage or pain, and no major complications were observed during the procedure. Conclusions Interventional US using the color Doppler method for adrenal masses is a useful procedure for safe puncture to reveal the orientation of adjacent viscera and blood vessels at the puncture site and to avoid complications including hemorrhage and pneumothorax. US, including color Doppler US, is also useful for detection of complications and follow-up studies because it is noninvasive and can be used for real-time examinations. In addition, pathological examination of specimens obtained by percutaneous biopsy or fine needle aspiration is useful for avoiding unnecessary surgery in patients with metastatic adrenal masses.     

Cava-suprarenal line: new position for sonographic imaging of left adrenal gland

Because of overlying attenuating structures, sonographic imaging of the left adrenal gland is often difficult, especially in obese or pediatric patients. In a series of 50 consecutive patients, the left adrenal glands were examined in both the conventional right posterior oblique (RPO) position and using the new cava-suprarenal line (CSL) position. The CSL position permitted identification of the left adrenal gland in 90% of the patients; in contrast, the gland could be demonstrated in only 60% of the patients using the conventional RPO position. With the CSL position, the left adrenal gland could be imaged in half the time required with the conventional RPO position. The improved ability to demonstrate the left adrenal gland as well as the reduction in the required scanning time was particularly marked in obese and pediatric patients.     

(131)I-MIBG核素显像在肾上腺髓质嗜铬细胞瘤诊断中的初步应用

目的 探讨^131I-MIBG肾上腺髓质显像在嗜铬细胞瘤诊断中的应用，同时与CT、B超及尿VMA测定结果进行比较。方法 病例选择经手术，病理确诊的3例嗜铬细胞瘤患者及经临床确诊的2例高血压患者，4例肾上腺肿大患者及1例肾上腺皮质瘤患者，受检者静脉缓注^131I-MIBG111MBg，注射后24h,48h使用SPECT进行全身和局部显像。结果 3例嗜铬细胞瘤患者可见患侧有异常放射性浓聚区，心肌，肝脏不显影，其他7例非嗜铬细胞瘤患者肾上腺不显影，但有6例心肌，肝脏显影。^131I-MIBG显像阳性率为100%，CT检查阳性率为66.7%，B超检查3例患者只能定位，不能定性，VMA检测阳性率为100%，结论 ^131I-MIBG显像对嗜铬细胞瘤的诊断优于CT、B超和尿VMA测定。     

Bilater phaeochromacytomas in von Hippel-lindau disease: diagnosis by adrenal vein sampling and catecholamine assay

Three unrelated patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease hadphaeochromocytomas diagnosed as a result of screening in theirthird decade. All had raised 24–h urinary noradrenalinelevels and obvious unilateral adrenal tumours on ultrasoundscanning and computed tomography. The contralateral adrenalappeared either normal or equivocally abnormal using the sameimaging techniques. Radiolabelled meta-iodo-benzylguanidineuptake and enhanced T2–weighted magnetic resonance signalsconfirmed the ipsilateral lesion, but showed no abnormalityin the contralateral adrenal. Nevertheless, venous samplingdemonstrated abnormally elevated noradrenaline: adrenaline ratios(normal <1) in blood draining both adrenals in all threepatients. All underwernt bilateral adrenalectomy: histologicalexamination confirmed bilateral phaeochromocytomas in all threepatients, with the smaller adrenal showing tumours between 3and 11 mm in diameter. A fourth patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease was also evaluatedbecause of a left ‘syprarenal’ mass discovered byultrasound scanning. Urinary and plasma catecholamines werenormal. Computed tomography showed a normal right adrenal, witha left para–aortic mass lying superior to the left adrenal.Magnetic resonance scanning showed an enhanced T2 signal fromthe mass, which also showed positive uptake with radiolabelledmIBG. At operation, a nonsecretroy left para-aortic paraganglimawas found. Venous sampling suggested that the left adrenal wasnormal, and this was confirmed on histology. Venous sampling for catecholamine assays is effective in locatingsmall bilateral phaeochromocytomas and defining a normal adrenalgland, and can useful in preventing unnecessary or repeat operationsin patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.     

肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤的诊断与治疗

目的：提高肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤的诊断和治疗水平。方法：回顾性分析15例肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤患者的临床资料并复习有关文献。年龄33～65岁，平均49岁。男9例，女6例。右侧10例，左侧5例。腰痛6例，高血压2例。术前诊断肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤14例。病程2个月～3年。结果：15例患者均行手术治疗，经十一肋间切口行开放手术11例，后腹腔镜下切除肿瘤4例。病理均证实为肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤。术后随访6个月～7．5年，均未发现肿瘤复发。2例高血压者术后血压恢复正常。结论：肾上腺髓质脂肪瘤患者临床表现无特征性，B超、CT及MRI等影像学检查是该病术前诊断的主要依据，开放手术或后腹腔镜下单纯切除肿瘤是主要治疗方法，一般预后良好。     

嗜铬细胞瘤的MRI诊断与鉴别诊断

目的探讨嗜铬细胞瘤的MRI诊断与鉴别诊断。方法收集53例经手术病理证实的嗜铬细胞瘤，术前均行MRI扫描，回顾性分析其MR征象。结果53例嗜铬细胞瘤，共59个病灶。单发48例，其中42个位于肾上腺，右侧26个，左侧16个；异位6个。多发5例，均位于肾上腺，双侧各1个，并其中1例左侧术后复发。良性47例，恶性6例。嗜铬细胞瘤呈较大的类圆形或不规则形肿块（平均瘤径5．7cm），T1WI信号强度类似肝实质，T2WI信号较高，肿瘤实体部分多明显强化（40／59），易发生坏死、囊变（36／59）。结论MRI检查可较好地显示肿瘤部位、形态、大小、瘤内成分、血供和与周围结构的关系，对嗜铬细胞瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断具有重要价值。     

Location of aldosterone-producing adenomas by the determination of plasma aldosterone in adrenal vein or renal vein blood.

1. Aldosterone-producing adenomas were located before operation in eighteen patients by comparison of aldosterone concentrations in blood obtained by percutaneous catheterization of the adrenal vein or renal vein. The concentration of aldosterone in the venous effluent from the adrenal glands containing adenomas was significantly greater than in the venous effluent from contralateral glands. 2. Cathetherization of the adrenal vein is, however, technically difficult. The location of adrenal adenomas was also possible by analysis of blood from the renal vein. 3. If the concentrations of aldosterone in blood from the left renal vein were higher than those from the right, the existence of a left adrenal adenoma was suggested. A high value in plasma, obtained from the inferior vena cava above the entry of the right adrenal vein, showed a right adrenal adenoma. This procedure identified very small functional adenomas which could not be demonstrated radiographically, or seen or palpated at surgery. 4. It was concluded that differential aldosterone measurement after percutaneous bilateral adrenal vein or renal vein catheterization can be used as a definitive test for the location of an aldosterone-producing adenoma, where this is uncertain.     

肺癌肾上腺转移的超声诊断

目的探讨超声对肺癌肾上腺转移的诊断价值和肿瘤声像图特征。方法应用超声检查肺癌肾上腺转移患者71例。结果超声对肾上腺转移癌的检出率为91．55％（65／71）。声像图特征表现为低回声，形态可呈圆形、椭圆形或不规则性分叶状。结论超声检查对肺癌肾上腺转移的诊断有重要价值，可作为肾上腺转移癌的较佳检查方法。     

肾上腺无功能肿瘤的超声定位诊断

目的 探讨超声检查对肾上腺无功能肿瘤的诊断价值。方法 对照分析１０６例肾上腺无功率肿瘤的超声检查和手术病理结果。结果 １０６例患者中,超声诊断真阳性１０３例,真阴性、假阳性、假阴性各１例,敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为９９．０％、５０．０％和９８．１％。肾上腺无功能肿瘤呈逐年增多趋势,被超声首次检出者为７７．９％。肿瘤从小到大依次为腺瘤、嗜铬细胞瘤、神经鞘瘤、髓样脂肪瘤、节细胞瘤、腺癌。各种肿瘤的大     

Analysis of adrenal masses by 18F-FDG positron emission tomography scanning

This study aimed to analyse the characteristics of adrenal masses visible in the computerised tomography (CT) scans which have been also evaluated by 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET), and to characterise the features of 18F-FDG PET scans associated with various adrenal endocrine tumours, especially benign functional tumours. 18F-FDG PET scans of 105 patients with adrenal masses on the CT scan were analysed. Positive uptakes in the 18F-FDG PET scans were seen in 60 malignant tumours (54 metastasic lesions, six primary adrenal cancers) and seven benign tumours. The positive predictive value of 18F-FDG PET imaging to characterise an adrenal mass as a malignant tumour was 90%; the corresponding negative predictive value to rule out malignancy was also 90%. Benign adrenal tumours were smaller than that of malignant lesions (p<0.05). The mean standardised uptake value max (SUVmax) of the metastatic lesions [8.4+/-6.5 (microCi/g)/microCi/kg] was significantly higher than that of the benign adrenal tumours [2.4+/-1.2 (microCi/g)/microCi/kg, p<0.001]. Examination of only the primary adrenal lesions revealed that all adrenocortical carcinomas, two of three cases of pheochromocytomas, three of five neuroblastomas and two of four cases of primary aldosteronism showed positive 18F-FDG uptake. In conclusion, for patients presenting adrenal masses with a high probability of malignancy, 18F-FDG PET can be used to differentiate malignant from benign adrenal lesions. However, the 18F-FDG PET uptake did not show an always consistent pattern for endocrine tumours, which was probably due to the variability inherent in 18F-FDG uptake. This study suggests that 18F-FDG PET scanning can offer supporting data to localise and characterise adrenal tumours.