Adrenal Lesions: A Review of Imaging

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 2171
• Main Authors: Bracci, Benedetta, De Santis, Domenico, Del Gaudio, Antonella, Faugno, Maria Carla, Romano, Allegra, Tarallo, Mariarita, Zerunian, Marta, Guido, Gisella, Polici, Michela, Polidori, Tiziano, Pucciarelli, Francesco, Matarazzo, Iolanda, Laghi, Andrea, Caruso, Damiano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-09-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; adenoma; adrenal; Adrenal glands; computed tomography; Diagnostic imaging; Hormones; incidentaloma; Lipids; Medical imaging; Methods; myelolipoma; Review; Tumors; Italy
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092171

Adrenal lesions are frequently incidentally diagnosed during investigations for other clinical conditions. Despite being usually benign, nonfunctioning, and silent, they can occasionally cause discomfort or be responsible for various clinical conditions due to hormonal dysregulation; therefore, their characterization is of paramount importance for establishing the best therapeutic strategy. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and PET-TC, providing anatomical and functional information, play a central role in the diagnostic workup, allowing clinicians and surgeons to choose the optimal lesion management. This review aims at providing an overview of the most encountered adrenal lesions, both benign and malignant, including describing their imaging characteristics.