Adrenal incidentaloma: Report of 33 cases

Background and Objectives The aim of our study was to review the imaging characteristics, endocrinologic screening and histologic diagnoses of adrenal incidentaloma cases encountered in our institute. Methods Thirty‐three adrenal incidentaloma cases that had been evaluated in Hacettepe University Hospital between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed retrospectively. Adrenal masses were discovered incidentally by abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and/or computed tomography (CT). Detailed endocrine evaluation was carried out to rule out a possible functioning mass. Results Among these incidentaloma cases, 2 silent Cushing syndrome (6.06%) cases, 6 silent pheochromocytoma (18.18%) cases, 2 adrenocortical carcinoma (6.06%) cases, and 2 metastatic masses (6.06%) were diagnosed. Conclusions An optimal diagnostic approach to an adrenal incidentaloma would consider the results of the biochemical tests and a review of anatomical qualities depicted on CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while taking into account the previous clinical epidemiologic data. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;70:247–250. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.