Potentialities of computed tomography and ultrasound in diagnosis of hormonally active adrenal diseases: results of comparison CT and US with operative adn histological data

• Published in: Vestnik rentgenologii i radiologii no. 2; p. 23
• Main Authors: Denisova, L B, Vorontsova, S V, Emel'ianova, L N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01-03-2000
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - diagnosis; Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Adolescent; Adrenal Gland Diseases - diagnosis; Adrenal Gland Diseases - surgery; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnosis; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital - diagnosis; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital - surgery; Adrenalectomy; Adult; Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pheochromocytoma - diagnosis; Pheochromocytoma - surgery; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0042-4676

The data given in the paper suggest that X-ray computed tomography (CT) is highly effective in detecting all types of hormonally active adrenal abnormalities. CT used in hormonally active adrenal diseases yielded data on major quantitative and qualitative (primarily densitometric) criteria that could be used in assessing the images of the adrenal area in these patients. Ultrasound study (USS) made at the first stage of topical diagnostic searches was of informative value in detecting adrenal tumor lesions, the technique being highly sensitive in the diagnosis of adrenal pheochromocytomas and adenocarcinomas, but less informative in the detection of hormonally active adrenocortical adenomas (aldesterone-producing ones in particular) than CT. The diagnosis of various adrenocortical hyperplasies and the differentiation of hyperplastic and tumor forms of hypercorticoidism are a prerogative of CT that substantially supplements USS findings in such cases.