Superiority of CT and MRI in imaging of adrenal masses

الملخص EN

Aim : Evaluation of CT as superior imaging modality in some adrenal lesions as adenoma and the high importance MRI imaging in malignant adrenal lesions with relation to the surrounding structures over other modality techniques. Material and Methods: 30 Patients with adrenal lesions are examined by different imaging techniques as the adrenal gland is a common site of disease, and detection of adrenal masses has increased with the expanding use of cross-sectional imaging.

CT and MRI are playing a critical role in not only the detection of adrenal abnormalities but in characterizing them as benign or malignant. Results : The study illustrates and describes the appropriate radiologic work-up for diseases affecting the adrenal gland.

The work-up of a suspected hyper-functioning adrenal mass (pheochromocytoma and aldosteronoma) which should be start with appropriate biochemical screening tests followed by thin-collimation computed tomography (CT) and MRI. Conclusion : If results of CT are not diagnostic, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations should be performed.

CT has can differentiate a benign adenoma from a metastasis While MRI highly effective in diagnosing the malignant adrenal masses and its relation to surrounding structures so , by CT If the attenuation of the adrenal gland is over 10 HU at non-enhanced CT, contrast material–enhanced CT should be performed and washout calculated.

Over 50 % washout of contrast material on a 10-minute delayed CT scan is diagnostic of an adenoma while chemical shift MR imaging is also highly sensitive technique for differentiating adenomas from metastases to the adrenal gland.

When results of CT examinations are equivocal, MR imaging is the next imaging study of choice for characterizing adrenal lesions ,our study has shown that MR imaging more accurate in all equivocal adrenal lesions.