Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of this study was to find out sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography (US) versus other imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) in diagnostics of pathologic changes of adrenal glands. In a sample of 310 patients with pathological process in retroperitoneum, we diagnosed pathological changes of adrenal glands (adrenals tumor) in 57 patients. The patients were examined by US Aloka SSD 500 with convex transducer of 3.5 MHz and then proceeded to CT and MR examination. Adrenals tumor was confirmed in 52 patients (91.2%) and pathological changes in vicinity of adrenals (pseudotumors) in not more then five patients (8.8%). The size of least detected focal lesion was 10×9 mm (incidentalom), US identification accuracy being 91.2%.

By adrenal glands ultrasonography it is possible to assess: the site of tumor (lateral or bilateral); type (focal, diffuse, cystic or solid); size and shape of change; homogeneity or non-homogeneity; limitation of the change, so as to follow growth and extension of the tumor. Only in five patients (8.8%) CT and MR gave close results. Due to high sensitivity and specificity, ultrasonography is the first step in algorithm of imaging modalities in diagnosing pathologic changes of adrenal glands. It is a dependable and necessary diagnostic procedure in detecting and follow up the adrenal tumors.