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Adrenal Incidentaloma: What You Need to Know
Published: Sep 05, 2024
Imagine going for a routine scan and discovering an unexpected mass in your adrenal gland. This is what happens with adrenal incidentalomas, and understanding them is key to managing your health.
What is an Adrenal Incidentaloma?
Adrenal incidentalomas are masses larger than 1 cm found by chance during radiologic exams like CT or MRI. These masses are not uncommon due to advances in imaging technologies. The main concerns with these masses are whether they are cancerous and if they produce excess hormones.
How Common Are They?
Adrenal incidentalomas are found in about 1.4 to 7.3% of CT scans, and they are more common in older adults. Interestingly, they are also more prevalent in people with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Autopsy studies show a prevalence of about 2%, with higher rates in certain health conditions.
Understanding Bilateral Masses
Bilateral adrenal masses occur in 10 to 15% of cases and can be related to various conditions like metastatic disease or congenital hyperplasia. It's possible for one mass to be hormone-secreting while the other is not, making thorough evaluation important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only 2 to 5% of incidentalomas are primary adrenal carcinomas.
About 10 to 15% of them secrete excess hormones.
Yes, they are more prevalent in older individuals.
Yes, especially in cases of bilateral masses.
Key Takeaways
Understanding adrenal incidentalomas can help you address important health questions proactively.
References
- Young WF Jr. Clinical practice. The incidentally discovered adrenal mass. N Engl J Med 2007; 356:601.
- Herrera MF, Grant CS, van Heerden JA, et al. Incidentally discovered adrenal tumors: an institutional perspective. Surgery 1991; 110:1014.
- Bovio S, Cataldi A, Reimondo G, et al. Prevalence of adrenal incidentaloma in a contemporary computerized tomography series. J Endocrinol Invest 2006; 29:298.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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