CT demonstration and guided aspiration of unusual adrenal metastases

• Published in: Journal of computer assisted tomography Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 98
• Main Authors: Gross, B H, Goldberg, H I, Moss, A A, Harter, L P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1983
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - secondary; Adrenal Glands - diagnostic imaging; Adrenal Glands - pathology; Aged; Biopsy, Needle; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0363-8715
• DOI: 10.1097/00004728-198302000-00017

Certain malignant neoplasms commonly metastasize to the adrenal glands, whereas others do so only infrequently. In the latter circumstance, an adrenal mass is likely to be benign. We report 3 patients with malignant neoplasms (hepatoma, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva) that do not commonly metastasize to the adrenals in whom computed tomographic (CT) demonstration and guided aspiration of adrenal masses significantly affected patient management. CT guided aspiration of adrenal masses is safe and accurate and is recommended whenever a diagnosis of adrenal metastasis would alter the staging or therapy of the primary neoplasm.