HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Elsayes, K. M. Articles by Brown, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Elsayes, K. M. Articles by Brown, J. J. Related Collections Magnetic Resonance Imaging Genitourinary Radiology

Adrenal Masses: MR Imaging Features with Pathologic Correlation¹

¹ From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (K.M.E., G.M., V.R.N., A.F., J.J.B.) and Department of Surgical Pathology (J.S.L.), Washington University School of Medicine, 510 S Kingshighway Blvd, St Louis, MO 63110; and the Department of Radiology, William Beaumont Hospital. Royal Oak, Mich (A.S.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2003 RSNA scientific assembly. Received March 19, 2004; revision requested April 14 and received May 3; accepted May 19. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to K.M.E. (e-mail: elsayesk@mir.wustl.edu).

The detection of adrenal lesions has increased with the expanding use of cross-sectional imaging. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is often useful for characterizing adrenal masses. Adrenal masses can be classified into various groups on the basis of the presence of intracellular lipid, macroscopic fat, hemorrhage, and cystic changes and the vascularity and shape of the tumor. These imaging features can be used by the radiologist to suggest or confirm a diagnosis for most adrenal masses, including adenoma, hyperplasia, simple and complicated cysts, lymphangioma, myelolipoma, pheochromocytoma, hemorrhage, cortical carcinoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and metastases. Adenomas and metastases are common, and a decrease in signal intensity on out-of-phase images can be used to differentiate between them. Carcinoma is a possible diagnosis if that decrease in signal intensity is heterogeneous. Benign disease is diagnosed if macroscopic fat or a homogeneous cystlike lesion is seen. Recognition of the typical MR imaging features is important because it often changes the treatment approach and may obviate surgery.

© RSNA, 2004

Index Terms: Adrenal glands, cysts, 86.31 • Adrenal gland, MR, 86.1214 • Adrenal gland, neoplasms, 86.32, 86.33

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Suzuki, H. Jacobsson, T. Hatschek, M. R. Torkzad, K. Boden, Y. Eriksson-Alm, E. Berg, H. Fujii, A. Kubo, and L. Blomqvist Radiologic Measurements of Tumor Response to Treatment: Practical Approaches and Limitations RadioGraphics, March 1, 2008; 28(2): 329 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. Faria, S. M. Goldman, J. Szejnfeld, H. Melo, C. Kater, P. Kenney, M. P. Huayllas, G. Demarchi, V. V. Francisco, C. Andreoni, et al. Adrenal Masses: Characterization with in Vivo Proton MR Spectroscopy Initial Experience Radiology, December 1, 2007; 245(3): 788 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Ilias, A. Sahdev, R. H Reznek, A. B Grossman, and K. Pacak The optimal imaging of adrenal tumours: a comparison of different methods Endocr. Relat. Cancer, September 1, 2007; 14(3): 587 - 599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. W. Colby, K. P. Banks, and E. Torres AJR teaching file: Incidental adrenal mass and hypertension. Am. J. Roentgenol., September 1, 2006; 187(3 Suppl): S470 - S472. [Full Text] [PDF]