Ultrasonography (Jan 2020)

WFUMB position paper on the management incidental findings: adrenal incidentaloma

  • Christoph F. Dietrich,
  • Jean Michel Correas,
  • Yi Dong,
  • Christian Nolsoe,
  • Susan Campbell Westerway,
  • Christian Jenssen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14366/usg.19029
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 39, no. 1
pp. 11 – 21

Abstract

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Focal lesions of the adrenal glands are incidentally detected in approximately 5% of cases by modern imaging techniques. Fewer than 5% of these adrenal incidentalomas are malignant and approximately 10% have endocrine activity. Reliable differentiation of malignant versus benign and hormonally active versus nonfunctional adrenal incidentalomas significantly influences therapeutic management and the outcome of affected individuals. Therefore, each adrenal incidentaloma should undergo a standardized diagnostic work-up to exclude malignancy and endocrine activity. This position statement of the World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) summarizes the available evidence on the management of adrenal incidentaloma and describes efficient management strategies with particular reference to the role of ultrasound techniques.

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