Management of large adrenal glands discovered incidentally

Incidental adrenal tumors are more and more often discovered with development of the new radiological techniques (CT scan, sonography). In such an occurrence, the largest panel of adrenal hormones measurements is needed. In the absence of hormonal abnormality, no exam can help for the clinical decision-making. According to epidemiological findings, we propose to operate upon tumors larger than 6 cm and to repeat CT scans at 2, 6 and 18 months for tumors smaller than 6 cm which should be operated upon if an enlargement of the adrenal tumor is demonstrated by a control exam. This attitude relies upon the quite higher frequency of adrenal adenomas (more than 99% of non-functioning adrenal tumors) and the more important risk of malignant adrenal carcinoma in front of a huge tumor. It appears to be the right choice in a cost-effectiveness perspective.