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open access

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)
Original paper
Submitted: 2021-02-28
Accepted: 2021-06-14
Published online: 2021-07-12
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Adrenal “nonadenoma” — clinical characteristics and risk of malignancy

Radosław Samsel1, Lucyna Papierska2, Karolina Nowak2, Agnieszka Kolasińska-Ćwikla1, Agnieszka Łebek-Szatańska2, Dorota Leszczyńska2, Kamil Jakubowicz1, Ewa Komorowska1, Michal Rabijewski2, Katarzyna Roszkowska-Purska3, Andrzej Cichocki1
DOI: 10.5603/EP.a2021.0063
·
Pubmed: 34292568
·
Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(5):492-497.
Affiliations
  1. The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
  3. Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Wawelska 15, 02-034 Warsaw, Poland

open access

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2021-02-28
Accepted: 2021-06-14
Published online: 2021-07-12

Abstract

Introduction: There is an increasing number of adrenal tumours discovered incidentally during imaging examinations performed for many different indications. Based on imaging results, it is possible to differentiate benign from malignant adrenal masses, although there is still a number of equivocal imaging findings. Our study presents 77 cases of adrenal tumours in which imaging was inconclusive and the final diagnosis was stated only after surgery and histopathological examination. 

Material and methods: Retrospective data analysis: 77 cases of indeterminate adrenal tumours with a presumptive diagnosis of “nonadenoma” in patients operated within a 16-year period (2004–2019). None of the patients had a history of malignancy, and all tumours were hormonally inactive. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), the native density of all tumours was higher than 10 Hounsfield Units (HU), and the absolute percentage washout (APW) and relative percentage washout (RPW) were lower than 60% and 40%, respectively.

Results: The most common findings were adrenal adenoma (25.9%), macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (16.9%), ganglioneuroma (15.6%), and haemorrhage with posthaemorrhagic changes (13%). In total, there were 12 various histopathological diagnoses in this group. There were only 2 (2.6%) malignant (adrenal cancer and leiomyosarcoma) and 3 (3.9%) potentially malignant (pheochromocytoma) lesions in this group.

Conclusions: It is often impossible to make a correct diagnosis in a clinical setting until it is histologically verified. “Nonadenoma” adrenal tumours constitute a heterogeneous group including very rare pathologies. The risk of malignancy in indeterminate adrenal tumours is relatively low. 

Abstract

Introduction: There is an increasing number of adrenal tumours discovered incidentally during imaging examinations performed for many different indications. Based on imaging results, it is possible to differentiate benign from malignant adrenal masses, although there is still a number of equivocal imaging findings. Our study presents 77 cases of adrenal tumours in which imaging was inconclusive and the final diagnosis was stated only after surgery and histopathological examination. 

Material and methods: Retrospective data analysis: 77 cases of indeterminate adrenal tumours with a presumptive diagnosis of “nonadenoma” in patients operated within a 16-year period (2004–2019). None of the patients had a history of malignancy, and all tumours were hormonally inactive. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), the native density of all tumours was higher than 10 Hounsfield Units (HU), and the absolute percentage washout (APW) and relative percentage washout (RPW) were lower than 60% and 40%, respectively.

Results: The most common findings were adrenal adenoma (25.9%), macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (16.9%), ganglioneuroma (15.6%), and haemorrhage with posthaemorrhagic changes (13%). In total, there were 12 various histopathological diagnoses in this group. There were only 2 (2.6%) malignant (adrenal cancer and leiomyosarcoma) and 3 (3.9%) potentially malignant (pheochromocytoma) lesions in this group.

Conclusions: It is often impossible to make a correct diagnosis in a clinical setting until it is histologically verified. “Nonadenoma” adrenal tumours constitute a heterogeneous group including very rare pathologies. The risk of malignancy in indeterminate adrenal tumours is relatively low. 

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Keywords

adrenal nonadenoma; indeterminate adrenal mass; adrenal surgery; risk of adrenal malignancy

About this article
Title

Adrenal “nonadenoma” — clinical characteristics and risk of malignancy

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 72, No 5 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

492-497

Published online

2021-07-12

Page views

6853

Article views/downloads

877

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2021.0063

Pubmed

34292568

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(5):492-497.

Keywords

adrenal nonadenoma
indeterminate adrenal mass
adrenal surgery
risk of adrenal malignancy

Authors

Radosław Samsel
Lucyna Papierska
Karolina Nowak
Agnieszka Kolasińska-Ćwikla
Agnieszka Łebek-Szatańska
Dorota Leszczyńska
Kamil Jakubowicz
Ewa Komorowska
Michal Rabijewski
Katarzyna Roszkowska-Purska
Andrzej Cichocki

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