Management of adrenal incidentalomas: European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors

Adrenal Surgery: Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Approaches

Adrenal surgery is an established, critical tool in the management of various adrenal gland pathologies. Complete or partial adrenalectomy is employed to manage both benign lesions and malignant tumors. Beyond a technical understanding of surgical and anatomic principles, an understanding of adrenal endocrine function is essential for all surgeons who care for patients with adrenal pathologies. In this article, we provide an overview of adrenal surgery, discussing key anatomic and functional considerations, various surgical approaches, perioperative management strategies, and potential complications.

Comparison between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery in managing localized adrenocortical carcinoma treatment: A retrospective propensity-matched study

BACKGROUND

It was controversial to use open surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact on prognosis between MIS and open surgery in patients with clinical stage I-II ACC.

METHODS

Patients with stage I-II ACC from December 2000 to October 2022 were retrospectively studied. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival time calculated by the Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

In total, 95 patients were enrolled in this study (50 open surgery and 45 MIS). Propensity score matching identified 32 matched pairs of patients. Compared with the open surgery group, the MIS group had a shorter median operative time (150.0 vs. 120.0 min, p = 0.014), the lesser median volume of intraoperative blood loss (200.0 vs. 60.0 mL, p = 0.006), lower incidence of postoperative complications (59.4% vs. 28.1%, p = 0.023), and shorter median postoperative length of hospital stay (8.0 vs. 7.0 days, p = 0.001). After a median follow-up time of 20.5 months, no significant differences were observed in the local recurrence rate (62.5% vs. 78.1%), distant metastasis rate (15.6% vs. 6.3%), and median time to recurrence (15.0 vs. 20.0 months) between the two groups. The median recurrence-free survival time between the open surgery and MIS groups did not significantly differ (16.0 vs. 21.0 months).

CONCLUSION

MIS might be a feasible option for treating localized ACC at a high patient's volume center with experienced surgeons.

Evaluation of the Adrenal Mass in Urologic Practice

Adrenal masses are commonly encountered as incidental findings in urologic practice. Many of these lesions do not undergo appropriate testing, likely because guidelines have historically been complex and contradictory. However, the workup for the vast majority of these lesions is actually straightforward. Here we present a practical, guidelines-based approach to the workup of adrenal lesions. We focus on distinguishing between benign, nonhormonally active adenomas (which require no further imaging or intervention) from those which are concerning for malignancy or are hormonally active.

Rare Adrenal Tumors and Adrenal Metastasis

This article covers rare adrenal tumors including functional adenomas, myelolipomas, ganglioneuromas and neuroblastomas, and metastasis to the adrenal gland. It explores their clinical presentation and behavior, hormonal activity, imaging features, other diagnostic considerations, and approaches to management. The variety of rare tumors and their unique behaviors covered in this article underscores the need to maintain up-to-date knowledge and surgical skills, as well as the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Localization and Classification of Adrenal Masses in Multiphase Computed Tomography: Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

The incidence of adrenal incidentalomas is increasing annually, and most types of adrenal masses require surgical intervention. Accurate classification of common adrenal masses based on tumor computed tomography (CT) images by radiologists or clinicians requires extensive experience and is often challenging, which increases the workload of radiologists and leads to unnecessary adrenal surgeries. There is an urgent need for a fully automated, noninvasive, and precise approach for the identification and accurate classification of common adrenal masses.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to enhance diagnostic efficiency and transform the current clinical practice of preoperative diagnosis of adrenal masses.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective analysis that includes patients with adrenal masses who underwent adrenalectomy from January 1, 2021, to May 31, 2023, at Center 1 (internal dataset), and from January 1, 2016, to May 31, 2023, at Center 2 (external dataset). The images include unenhanced, arterial, and venous phases, with 21,649 images used for the training set, 2406 images used for the validation set, and 12,857 images used for the external test set. We invited 3 experienced radiologists to precisely annotate the images, and these annotations served as references. We developed a deep learning-based adrenal mass detection model, Multi-Attention YOLO (MA-YOLO), which can automatically localize and classify 6 common types of adrenal masses. In order to scientifically evaluate the model performance, we used a variety of evaluation metrics, in addition, we compared the improvement in diagnostic efficacy of 6 doctors after incorporating model assistance.

RESULTS

A total of 516 patients were included. In the external test set, the MA-YOLO model achieved an intersection over union of 0.838, 0.885, and 0.890 for the localization of 6 types of adrenal masses in unenhanced, arterial, and venous phase CT images, respectively. The corresponding mean average precision for classification was 0.885, 0.913, and 0.915, respectively. Additionally, with the assistance of this model, the classification diagnostic performance of 6 radiologists and clinicians for adrenal masses improved. Except for adrenal cysts, at least 1 physician significantly improved diagnostic performance for the other 5 types of tumors. Notably, in the categories of adrenal adenoma (for senior clinician: P=.04, junior radiologist: P=.01, and senior radiologist: P=.01) and adrenal cortical carcinoma (junior clinician: P=.02, junior radiologist: P=.01, and intermediate radiologist: P=.001), half of the physicians showed significant improvements after using the model for assistance.

CONCLUSIONS

The MA-YOLO model demonstrates the ability to achieve efficient, accurate, and noninvasive preoperative localization and classification of common adrenal masses in CT examinations, showing promising potential for future applications.

Feasibility of an electronic nose to aid biochemical assessment of adrenal lesions

OBJECTIVES

Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath has emerged as a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of an electronic nose to differentiate between functional adrenal lesions - pheochromocytoma (PHEO), primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) and hypercortisolism (CS) - and nonfunctional adrenal lesions.

METHODS

A pilot study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals within the Netherlands. Patients with PHEO, PHA, CS and nonfunctional adrenal lesions underwent breath testing with an electronic nose between May 2021-June 2024. Each center employed a distinct electronic nose (device A&B). Comparability of data between the devices was assessed in a t-SNE plot, and an artificial neural network was trained to classify breath patterns.

RESULTS

Data obtained from the two electronic noses were too heterogeneous for pooling and device B had an insufficient sample size for further analysis. Therefore, VOC patterns of 76 functional lesions (27 PHEO, 33 PHA, 16 CS) and 29 nonfunctional adrenal lesions measured exclusively with device A were analyzed. Moderate discriminative performance was observed in the training data: pooled functional lesions (area under the curve (AUC) 0.76), PHEO (AUC 0.76), PHA (AUC 0.72) and CS (AUC 0.58) versus nonfunctional lesions. However, model performance declined significantly when applying the model developed with training data on test data, with wide confidence intervals across all comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

While slight differences in VOC patterns were detected between functional and nonfunctional adrenal lesions, the electronic nose demonstrated limited discriminative value for clinical practice.

Metabolic complications and clinical outcomes of non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Increased detection of non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI) due to widespread abdominal imaging may underestimate associated metabolic risks. To examine NFAI's impact on metabolic comorbidities and evaluate outcomes in surgical and non-surgical management, including changes in NFAI characteristics during follow-up.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (January 2000 to May 2024). Studies focusing on patients with serum cortisol levels ≤ 50 nmol/L after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and lipid disorders before and after follow-up. Tumor growth (> 10 mm increase) and functional changes (1 mg DST retest) were assessed.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria (n = 2,059). In the non-surgical group, diabetes (RR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07-1.65) and lipid disorders (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07-1.38) increased significantly, while hypertension (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.99-1.16) and obesity (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.91-1.21) showed no significant change. Surgical intervention significantly improved hypertension (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.86). During mean follow-up of 46.1 months, 4% (95% CI: 2%- 8%) of NFAI enlarged > 10 mm, while 8% (95% CI: 5%- 14%) became functional during 45.1 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with NFAI, subtle hormone secretion may exist despite current diagnostic criteria suggesting non-functionality. Such tumors show significant associations with metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Future research should focus on developing more sensitive diagnostic methods and establishing evidence-based surgical intervention criteria through prospective studies.

Prevalence and Incidence of Dementia in Patients With Non-Overtly Functional Adrenal Tumours

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and incidence of dementia in patients with non-overtly functional adrenal tumours (NOFATs).

DESIGN

A national retrospective register-based study was conducted on patients diagnosed with NOFAT and controls diagnosed between 2005 and 2019, in Sweden. Individuals diagnosed with overt adrenal hormone excess or previous malignancies were excluded. Sensitivity analyses were performed in subgroups with a combination of gallbladder/biliary tract/pancreatic disease. and acute appendicitis, as well as 3- and 12-months of malignancy-free survival.

MEASUREMENTS

Prevalence and incidence of dementia. The secondary outcomes were Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

RESULTS

Among 20,390 cases, 12,120 (59.4%) were women, and the median (IQR) age was 66 (57-73) years. Among the 125,392 controls, 69,994 (55.8%) were women and the median (IQR) age was 66 (57-73) years. Patients with NOFATs had a lower prevalence of dementia compared to controls (odds ratio [OR] 0.58, 95% CI 0.50-0.68, adjusted OR [aOR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.40-0.56). During the follow-up period (median 4.9 years, IQR 2.2-8.2), incidence of dementia was similar in NOFATs and controls (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, 95% CI 0.97-1.15, adjusted HR [aHR] 1.06, 95% CI 0.97-1.15). Similar results obtained for Alzheimer's dementia (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34-0.57; aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.80-1.10) and vascular dementia (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.94, aOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.35-0.64; HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.08-1.53, aHR 1.13, 95% CI 0.95-1.35) as well as in the sensitivity analyses. Adrenalectomy did not change the results.

CONCLUSION

NOFAT was not associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound appearance of adrenal hemorrhage after orthotopic liver transplantation: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the incidence of adrenal hemorrhage (AH) after OLT and to summarize the ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics.

METHODS

Patients with adrenal lesions after OLT at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed between January 2010 and November 2023. The reference diagnosis was defined on the basis of surgical data, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging with at least 12 months of follow-up. The incidence of AH and the US and CEUS characteristics after OLT were analyzed and compared with those of adrenal metastases.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients (1.2%) with AH and 7 patients (0.35%) with suprarenal metastases were assessed. Compared with metastases, hematomas had more inhomogeneous echotextures (57% vs. 0.00%, P = 0.010), hypoechoic or mixed-echoic patterns (96% vs. 71%, P = 0.022), and anechoic areas (52% vs. 0.00%, P = 0.024), and their echotextures varied more over time (65% vs. 0.14%, P = 0.031). CEUS was performed on 12 patients with AH and 2 patients with metastases. A "jet-like" contrast superflux was observed in one actively bleeding hematoma, whereas no enhancement was observed in any static hematoma (100%). However, adrenal metastases had a contrast-enhanced appearance in the early arterial phase, followed by fast washout in the late phase (100%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The sonographic characteristics of AH after OLT vary over time. CEUS is recommended when adrenal lesions are detected, as CEUS can differentiate AH from metastases.

Who and how to screen for endogenous hypercortisolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus or obesity

PURPOSE

The current review aims to summarize and discuss the prevalence of confirmed hypercortisolism in patients with diabetes mellitus or obesity, analysing the screening tests used and their accuracy, in order to better identify whether patients with diabetes mellitus and obesity should be screened for Cushing's syndrome (CS) and how.

METHODS

A narrative review was performed including publications focusing on the current knowledge on prevalence of confirmed hypercortisolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or obesity and on screening tests used to detect CS.

RESULTS

The studies reviewed suggest that the prevalence of CS in patients with T2DM is variable, ranging from 0.6 to 9.3%. The most used screening test is the overnight cortisol after 1 mg of dexamethasone suppression test (DST), with a false positive rate ranging from 3.7 to 21%. The prevalence of CS among obese patients is generally about 1%, except for two studies which reported higher prevalence. For obese patients, 1 mg DST and late-night salivary cortisol are the most accurate screening tests for CS.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical expertise remains the mainstay to identify which subjects should be screened for CS. The evaluation of the clinical stigmata of CS and the combination with clinical comorbidities typical of CS are the stronger predictors of CS. In addition, we could hypothesize that in patients with T2DM, overnight 1 mg DST is the more accurate screening test for CS. By contrast, in patients with obesity both LNSC and overnight 1 mg DST could be equally used for the screening of hypercortisolism.

Prevalence and Predictive Features of CT-Derived Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Metabolically Healthy MACS

OBJECTIVE

Patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) are at increased risk of cardiometabolic outcomes, such as hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of NAFLD in metabolically healthy subjects with MACS.

METHODS

Forty patients with MACS and 60 patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI) matched for age, gender, and body mass index were included. We excluded various diseases that may lead to NAFLD, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and liver disorders. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was evaluated with unenhanced abdominal computed tomography and noninvasive fatty liver indices.

RESULTS

Patients with MACS had lower mean liver attenuation values (Hounsfield units, HU) than those with NFAI (p = 0.001). Visceral adiposity index, hepatic steatosis index, and fatty liver index were higher in the MACS group than in the NFAI group (p = 0.009, p = 0.002, p = 0.023, respectively). However, there was no significant association between the mean liver HU value and these indices. There was a significant association between serum cortisol level after the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and mean liver HU value independent of other traditional risk factors in various models performed in multivariable linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that MACS is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, and serum cortisol level after 1 mg DST is an independent predictor of NAFLD in patients with MACS.

Ectopic ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma without typical signs of Cushing syndrome

This case report describes a 42-year-old female with a rare pheochromocytoma presenting without classic Cushingoid features but with uncontrolled hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and recurrent headaches. Despite the absence of typical signs, biochemical analysis revealed elevated cortisol and ACTH levels, and imaging showed a 6 cm adrenal mass. The patient was stabilized preoperatively with alpha-blockers and metyrapone before undergoing a successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Histopathology confirmed pheochromocytoma with aggressive features. Postoperatively, her blood pressure and symptoms improved, and her cortisol levels normalized. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of ACTH-secreting pheochromocytomas without classic hypercortisolism signs and emphasizes the need for thorough endocrine and imaging assessments. Surgical resection remains the definitive treatment, with long-term follow-up essential to monitor for recurrence. This case contributes to the limited literature on the coexistence of pheochromocytoma and ectopic ACTH secretion.

Increased cardiovascular risk despite unchanged body composition in non functional adrenal incidentaloma

BACKGROUND

Non-functional adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI) is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiometabolic outcome. Identifying predictors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) may enable more appropriate management strategies in patients with NFAI. We aimed to investigate the body composition parameters and ASCVD risk in patients with NFAI.

METHODS

Eighty patients with NFAI and 80 controls matched for age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were included. ASCVD risk was assessed on Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) score. Body composition was evaluated using a segmental body composition analyzer.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age, gender, blood pressure or body composition parameters between the two groups. Patients with NFAI had higher FRS and AHA/ACC scores than controls (P=0.017, P=0.024, respectively). In patients with NFAI, independent predictors for FRS were serum cortisol level after 1mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and waist/hip ratio (WHR), while independent predictors for AHA/ACC score were serum cortisol level after 1mg DST, WHR and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), in various multivariate linear regression models.

CONCLUSIONS

FRS and AHA/ACC scores may be useful in determining ASCVD risk in patients with NFAI, and serum cortisol level after 1mg DST is an independent predictor of ASCVD in these patients, even in the absence of hypercortisolism.

"Who and how to screen for endogenous hypercortisolism among young women presenting with clinical hyperandrogenism and/or menstrual abnormalities "

Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) is rare, with an incidence of 0.7-2.4 per million population per year according to population-based studies. However, evaluation of patients presenting disorders potentially related to cortisol excess, and therefore with a 'high risk of clinical suspicion' profile, could bring out several unrecognized cases. CS represents one of the most challenging endocrine diseases, with clinical features overlapping with those of common conditions affecting general population, invariably resulting in potential mis- or delayed diagnosis with negative consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality. CS is remarkably prevalent among young females, variably presenting with menstrual irregularities and/or signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism. Herein we briefly reviewed literature on prevalence and clinical impact of menses abnormalities, acne and hirsutism -also coexisting in the context of a polycystic ovary syndrome- in CS, aiming at clarifying if, when and how to screen for hypercortisolism young women with these disorders.

The impact of mild autonomous cortisol secretion and proposed interventions

INTRODUCTION

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is the most common hormonal alteration in patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AIs). Given its prevalence and associated adverse outcomes, reviewing its impact and interventions is essential.

AREAS COVERED

In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on the diagnosis of MACS, the cardiometabolic burden associated with MACS and on its surgical and medical treatment. The diagnosis of MACS requires three criteria: hormonal evidence of hypercortisolism, the absence of typical Cushing's syndrome signs, and the presence of an AI. The most recommended test for MACS diagnosis is the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test. There is plenty of evidence of the detrimental effect of MACS, including an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and all-cause mortality. Surgery should be considered for patients with significant comorbidities and has been shown to significantly improve anthropometric variables, hyperglycemia and blood pressure. Medical therapy to lower cortisol offers an effective alternative, particularly for patients with bilateral AI, when surgery is contraindicated, or the patient declines surgery.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on our expert opinion, steroid profiling has the potential to become the gold standard for MACS diagnosis, and further studies should identify which patients benefit most from specific treatment to guiding evidence-based recommendations.

Hypertension and Cushing's syndrome: hunt for the red flag

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of secondary hypertension is reported to be 5-15% of people with hypertension. Causes of secondary hypertension include Cushing's syndrome (CS), a rare but serious clinical condition characterized by chronic endogenous hypercortisolism associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially for cardiovascular complications. The challenge for the clinician is thus to identify the phenotype of hypertensive patients who should be screened for endogenous hypercortisolism.

METHODS

This study was performed according to the PRISMA statement. The search was last updated in June 2023, and only English language studies were considered. Titles and abstracts have been screened for articles selection, identifying only those that dealt with prevalence of Cushing's syndrome in hypertensive patients. Finally, eight papers were included in the review. Data regarding year of publication, populations' characteristics, inclusion criteria, screening test and cut-off used, and CS prevalence have been extracted.

RESULTS

The study search identified eight studies, from 1977 to 2020, including a total number of 11,504 patients, ranging from 80 to 4429 patients for each study. The prevalence of CS reported was variable among the studies, ranging from 0 to 7.7%, having Cushing's disease (CD) a prevalence range of 0-1.2%. The highest prevalence has been found in selected populations of hypertensive patients younger than 40 years (6.2%) or harbouring an adrenal lesion (7.7%). The most used screening test was 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg DST), with different cut-off.

CONCLUSION

The most fitting CS profile encompasses younger age (i.e., < 40 years old), rapidly evolving hypertension and the presence of adrenal adenomas, along with subjects with pituitary lesions, who should still be prioritized in the diagnostic pathway. Overall, in the case of hypertensive patients presenting a clinical picture highly suggestive of CS, it is advisable to perform one of the available screening tests (UFC, 1 mg DST, LNSC). LNSC is likely the most discriminatory test and may be preferred, depending on its availability. Conversely, for hypertensive patients with an adrenal incidentaloma, the 1 mg DST is recommended as the screening test to exclude CS.

Current state-of-the-art of adrenal surgery in Italy: the cancer risk in surgical adrenal lesions (CRISAL) survey

Adrenalectomies are growing worldwide because of the frequent diagnosis of incidentaloma and the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The factors used to identify a malignant lesion and the best surgical technique are uncertain. In this context, the definition of high-volume center and expert surgeon is under debate. The Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery and New Technologies (SICE) developed a nationwide survey to investigate the state-of-the-art of adrenal surgery in Italy. A web-based survey comprising 37 questions was developed and distributed to Italian surgeons involved in adrenal surgery. Two hundred forty-eight answers were analyzed. Consensus was reached among the survey participants regarding local infiltration (83%) and rapid growth of the lesion (81%) as markers of malignancy. Nearly 30% of the participants used MIS in case of malignant adrenal lesions. The lateral (50%) and anterior transperitoneal (44%) approaches were the most common among Italian surgeons. Approximately 40% of participants believe that 20-40 adrenalectomies/year are needed to define an expert surgeon and at least 20 procedures/year to define a high-volume center. Approximately half of participants performed < 10 adrenalectomies/year in centers with a median volume < 10 procedures/year. Based on participant feedback, this survey highlights local infiltration and rapid growth as the most significant markers of malignant adrenal lesions. While open adrenalectomy remains the gold standard for suspected malignant lesions, nearly 30% of the participants practice MIS even in these cases. The lateral and anterior transperitoneal approaches emerge as the most familiar for Italian surgeons. A substantial proportion of Italian patients with adrenal lesions undergo surgery performed by surgeons with an annual case volume < 10 procedures, at centers with a low annual volume of adrenalectomies. Moreover, there is a lack of standardized definitions for 'expert surgeon' and 'high-volume center' in this context.

Nomogram for predicting postoperative clinical remission of hypertension in patients with adrenal tumors

OBJECTIVE

Hypertension caused by adrenal tumors is a frequent cause of secondary hypertension. Treating primary adrenal disease can significantly improve or cure hypertension. However, hypertension may persist in some patients after surgery, leading to controversy over the choice of surgery or conservative treatment. The aim of this study is to construct and validate a model for predicting postoperative clinical remission of hypertension in patients with adrenal tumors to help surgeons make better surgical decisions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on data pertaining to 336 patients diagnosed with adrenal tumors and hypertension between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2022. Potential predictor variables were utilized to develop a nomogram, which were internally validated using a bootstrap resampling method. Clinical data from 141 patients from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 were analyzed for external validation using the same criteria.

RESULTS

In patients with non-functioning adrenal tumors, lower age, body mass index, and hypertension grade were considered independent predictors of postoperative clinical remission of hypertension. In patients with functional adrenal tumors, absence of diabetes mellitus, lower systolic blood pressure, and duration of hypertension were considered independent predictors of postoperative clinical remission of hypertension. The area under the curve (AUC) for the nonfunctional adrenal tumor prediction model was 0.761, the AUC for internal validation using the bootstrap method (resampling = 1000) was 0.757, and the AUC for the external validation cohort was 0.837. The AUC for the functional adrenal tumor prediction model was 0.848, the AUC for internal validation using the bootstrap method (resampling = 1000) was 0.836, and the AUC for the external validation cohort was 0.836. The calibration curves demonstrated a satisfactory fit between the model and clinical utility, as evidenced by the decision curve analysis.

CONCLUSION

Nomograms have been demonstrated to perform well in predicting postoperative clinical remission of hypertension in patients with adrenal tumors. This may assist clinicians in distinguishing between patients with adrenal tumors who are likely to achieve clinical remission of hypertension after surgery at an early stage.

GBDKVA score: a scoring system for preoperative risk assessment of adrenal tumors ≤6cm

Objectives

To propose a comprehensive scoring system for adrenal tumors ≤ 6cm and evaluate its rationality and validity.

Materials and methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 268 patients with primary adrenal tumors who underwent laparoscopic surgery from January 2018 to December 2022 and all of them met the inclusion criteria. Evaluation scores were calculated for gender (G), body mass index (BMI) (B), tumor diameter (D), the relative position of the tumor to the kidney (K), the relative position of the tumor and the blood vessels (V) and the tumor location in the adrenal gland (A). Then, the total scores were correlated with the operation results, so as to verify the feasibility of GBDKVA in evaluating the surgical risk.

Results

The GBDKVA score showed a consistent and statistically significant correlation with operation time (OT) and blood loss (BL), as well as a correlation with postoperative complications in patients (p < 0.01), but no significant correlation was found with recovery time of gastrointestinal function, bed rest days, indwelling drainage tube days and postoperative hospitalization time were opposite.

Conclusions

GBDKVA score is reliable for preoperative risk assessment of patients with adrenal tumors ≤6cm.

Tumor localization strategies of multicancer early detection tests: a quantitative assessment

BACKGROUND

Multicancer early detection tests may expand cancer screening. Characterizing diagnostic resolution approaches following positive multicancer early detection tests is critical. Two trials employed distinct resolution approaches: a molecular signal to predict tissue of origin and an imaging-based diagnostic strategy. This modeling study characterizes diagnostic journeys and impact in a hypothetical population of average-risk multicancer early detection-eligible patients.

METHODS

A mathematical expression for diagnostic burden was derived using positive predictive value (PPV), molecular tissue of origin localization accuracy, and numbers of procedures associated with each diagnostic outcome. Imaging-based and molecular tissue of origin-informed strategies were compared. Excess lifetime cancer risk due to futile radiation exposure was estimated using organ-specific diagnostic imaging radiation doses.

RESULTS

Across all PPVs and localization performances, a molecular tissue of origin strategy resulted in a higher diagnostic burden (mean = 3.6 [0.445] procedures vs mean = 2.6 [0.100] procedures) for the imaging strategy. Estimated diagnostic burden was higher for molecular tissue of origin in 95.5% of all PPV and tissue of origin accuracy combinations; at least 79% PPV and 90% accuracy would be required for a molecular tissue of origin-informed strategy to be less burdensome than imaging. The maximum rate of excess cancer incidence from radiation exposure for multicancer early detection false-positive results (individuals aged 50-84 years) was 64.6 of 100 000 (annual testing, 99% specificity), 48.5 of 100 000 (biennial testing, 98.5% specificity), and 64.6 of 100 000 (biennial testing, 98% specificity).

CONCLUSIONS

An imaging-based diagnostic strategy is more efficient than a molecular tissue of origin-informed approach across almost all PPV and tissue of origin accuracy combinations. The use of an imaging-based approach for cancer localization can be efficient and low-risk compared with a molecular-informed approach.

Prevalence and main characteristics of primary aldosteronism in bilateral macronodular adrenal disease: a systematic review of the literature

CONTEXT

Bilateral macronodular adrenal disease (BMAD) typically presents with bilateral benign adrenocortical macronodules and variable cortisol excess. Anecdotal evidence suggests oversecretion of other adrenal steroids, including mineralocorticoids.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that primary aldosteronism (PA) can occur in BMAD, resulting in a distinct, more severe phenotype compared to BMAD with isolated cortisol hypersecretion or unilateral PA (uPA).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and characteristics of PA in BMAD.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed case reports and series of BMAD patients with PA, following PRISMA guidelines. BMAD was defined by bilateral adrenal nodules ≥10 mm. PA diagnosis followed US or Japanese Endocrine Society guidelines. We compared these findings with 2 cohorts from LMU Hospital Munich: BMAD with isolated cortisol hypersecretion and uPA.

RESULTS

From 1018 articles, 18 representing 68 cases were included. Of these, 66 had BMAD with PA and 2 had BMAD with aldosterone precursor excess. The PA proportion in published BMAD series ranged from 2% to 43%. BMAD patients with PA were predominantly male (75%) and younger (median 51.5 years) than those with isolated cortisol hypersecretion (median 60.5 years, P < .01). Their median blood pressure was higher (170/100 mm Hg) compared to those with isolated cortisol hypersecretion (138/80 mm Hg) or uPA (153/94 mm Hg, P < .01). Treatment was only described in 28 cases, with 93% undergoing adrenalectomy. Clinical outcome was similar across groups post-treatment.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the need for increased screening for PA in younger, hypertensive BMAD patients. Larger multicenter studies are needed to determine the association between these conditions, cardiovascular risk, and optimal treatment.

A Woman With Persistent Abdominal Pain in the Setting of a Solitary Fibrous Adrenal Tumor

Background/Objective

We present a case of a woman with persistent abdominal pain, leading to the discovery of a rare solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the adrenal gland. The rarity of adrenal SFTs and their diagnostic challenges make this case noteworthy. The objective of this report is to describe a patient with an adrenal SFT, highlighting the unique diagnostic approach and management considerations for this rare condition.

Case Report

A 35-year-old woman presented with chronic abdominal pain and was referred to the endocrinology clinic for evaluation of an adrenal incidentaloma. Computed tomography imaging revealed a 4 cm homogeneous right adrenal mass, with precontrast Hounsfield units of 1 and an absolute contrast washout of 60%. A prior computed tomography scan from 6 years earlier showed a 1.5 cm adenoma with similar characteristics. Despite normal hormonal levels, the tumor's growth and the patient's symptoms prompted surgical referral. The patient underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. Pathological examination identified a well-circumscribed SFT, measuring 3.7 × 3.6 × 2.9 cm.

Discussion

Adrenal SFTs are rare, typically hormonally inactive, well-circumscribed masses that often present with abdominal pain. While more common in the pleura, adrenal SFTs can mimic other benign adrenal lesions on imaging, complicating diagnosis. Histopathology is essential for accurate diagnosis, and surgical resection remains the main treatment.

Conclusion

This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of adrenal SFTs, which can mimic other benign lesions. Despite significant growth, the tumor was histologically benign with low malignancy risk. Clinicians should consider adrenal SFTs in the differential diagnosis of incidental adrenal masses with atypical imaging features.

Whole-lesion CT histogram analysis as an advanced technique in the portal venous phase: differentiating lipid poor adrenal adenomas from pheochromocytomas

PURPOSE

Adrenal computed tomography (CT) has limitation due to imaging overlaps inthe washout characteristics of pheochromocytomas and adenomas (especially lipid-poor). The aim of this study was to investigate the distinguishability of lipid-poor adrenal adenomas and pheochromocytomas using whole-lesion CT histogram analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Histopathologically proven 24 lipid-poor adenomas and 29 pheochromocytomas (total 53 lesions in 53 patients) were included in this retrospective study. Data obtained from standard and volumetric examinations of the lesions by dedicated adrenal CT were compared between the two groups using univariate analysis. Parameters that showed differences were further evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of lesion size, lesion volume, percentage of relative wash out, peak HU values and the percentage of voxels with attenuation ≥ 100 HU, ≥ 110 HU and ≥ 120 HU (p = 0.0001, P = 0.0001, P = 0.01, P = 0.008, p = 0.04, p = 0.02, p = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed lesion size ≥ 22.05 mm (OR: 22; p < 0.0001), the percentage of voxels with attenuation ≥ 120 HU being ≥ 9% (OR: 3.27; p = 0.04), peak HU value ≥ 161.5 HU (OR: 4.40; p = 0.01) as risk factors for pheochromocytomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Whole lesion CT histogram analysis can be used to differentiate pheochromocytomas from lipid-poor adenomas. Lesion volume, the percentage of voxels with attenuation ≥ 120 HU and peak HU values are independent parameters that can assist in this differentiation. These findings may help avoid unnecessary biopsies and surgeries for lipid-poor adenomas, while identifying pheochromocytoma risk may improve perioperative patient management. Our results should be validated by future prospective studies.

Metabolic, hormonal profiles and comorbidities in pituitary Cushing's syndrome, adrenal Cushing's syndrome and mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a comparative study

PURPOSE

Our study aimed to discern disparities in metabolic, hormonal profiles, and comorbidities among patients with pituitary Cushing (PC), adrenal Cushing (AC), and Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis involving 76 patients diagnosed with PC (n = 26), AC (n = 21), and MACS (n = 29) at our clinic. We compared the groups' demographic data, clinical characteristics, biochemical profiles, hormonal analyses, and surgical interventions.

RESULTS

No significant differences were noted in age, height, body mass index, or gender distribution among the groups, although a higher proportion of females was observed across all three groups. However, PC patients exhibited markedly elevated 24-hour urinary cortisol levels compared to AC and MACS patients. Furthermore, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein, insulin, and basal cortisol levels were significantly elevated in PC and AC cases compared to MACS cases. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in terms of comorbidities among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that urinary cortisol levels were significantly higher in the PC group than in the AC and MACS groups, potentially indicating that high-amplitude adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation may lead to increased cortisol secretion in PC patients. The increased utilization of imaging methods has facilitated the earlier detection of adrenal incidentalomas, enabling the diagnosis of adrenal Cushing's cases with milder cortisol elevations. Additionally, the severity of disease symptoms worsens with increasing cortisol levels.Notably, moderate increases in cortisol are associated with heightened comorbidities, underscoring the importance of vigilant management in Cushing's syndrome patients. Despite a lower degree of hypercortisolism in MACS, there were no differences in comorbidities, suggesting that even mild cortisol secretion abnormalities are sufficient to establish the presence of comorbidities. Even moderate increases in cortisol levels can impact bone metabolism.

The diagnostic dilemma of adrenal vascular tumors: analysis of 21 cases and systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

Adrenal vascular tumors are mainly represented by adrenal cavernous hemangiomas (ACHs) and adrenal cystic lymphangiomas (ACLs). Their radiological features often overlap with malignant tumors, therefore ruling out malignancy becomes mandatory. We analyzed clinical, radiological, and histopathological data to identify specific characteristics of these tumors.

METHODS

We reviewed 21 patients with ACHs (n = 12), ACLs (n = 8), or adrenal cysts (n = 1) confirmed by histopathology. We selected 82 papers from PubMed to provide a systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

In our cohort, median age at diagnosis was 58 years, with sex evenly distributed. All tumors were unilateral (median size = 44 mm), with 6 cases of increasing tumor size. All tumors exhibited non-contrast CT density > 10 Hounsfield Unit (HU). Calcifications were found in 5 cases. Hormonal studies revealed 11 non-functioning tumors and 2 cortisol-secreting tumors. Elevated urinary metanephrines were found in 2 cases. Immunostaining showed CD31/CD34/factor VIII expression in ACHs (n = 5, 24%) and podoplanin expression in ACLs (n = 6, 29%). The literature review revealed 71 reported cases of ACHs and 104 reported cases of ACLs. Median age at diagnosis was 46 years, with slightly female prevalence (63%). Median tumor size was 48 mm. 84 cases were symptomatic, with life-threatening hemorrhage reported in only 3 patients. Calcifications were found in 23% of cases. Surgical approaches varied, with open and laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed in 55 and 42 patients respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ACHs and ACLs represent a diagnostic dilemma in clinical practice due to their rarity and their misleading imaging features.

Two-Stage Deep Learning Model for Adrenal Nodule Detection on CT Images: A Retrospective Study

Background The detection and classification of adrenal nodules are crucial for their management. Purpose To develop and test a deep learning model to automatically depict adrenal nodules on abdominal CT images and to simulate triaging performance in combination with human interpretation. Materials and Methods This retrospective study (January 2000-December 2020) used an internal dataset enriched with adrenal nodules for model training and testing and an external dataset reflecting real-world practice for further simulated testing in combination with human interpretation. The deep learning model had a two-stage architecture, a sequential detection and segmentation model, trained separately for the right and left adrenal glands. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for nodule detection and intersection over union for nodule segmentation. Results Of a total of 995 patients in the internal dataset, the AUCs for detecting right and left adrenal nodules in internal test set 1 (n = 153) were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.00; P < .001) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.98; P < .001), respectively. These values were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97, 0.99; P < .001) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96, 0.97; P < .001) in the external test set (n = 12 080) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.95; P < .001) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.94; P < .001) in internal test set 2 (n = 1214). The median intersection over union was 0.64 (IQR, 0.43-0.71) and 0.53 (IQR, 0.40-0.64) for right and left adrenal nodules, respectively. Combining the model with human interpretation achieved high sensitivity (up to 100%) and specificity (up to 99%), with triaging performance from 0.77 to 0.98. Conclusion The deep learning model demonstrated high performance and has the potential to improve detection of incidental adrenal nodules. © RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Malayeri and Turkbey in this issue.

Relationship of obesity, body fat, benign adrenal tumors and the mediating mechanism: a two-step mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Benign adrenal tumors comprise the majority of asymptomatic adrenal masses and are often associated with cortisol secretion, which increases the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Hormone secretion by these tumors may confound prevailing epidemiologic findings, and the causal relationships among obesity, body fat, and benign adrenal tumors remain uncertain. Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic variation as an instrumental variable to simulate randomized controlled trials, thereby reducing confounding and supporting causal relationships. Therefore, we aim to use MR methods to investigate causal relationships between obesity, body fat, and benign adrenal tumors. And use two-step MR to evaluate potential mediating mechanisms and their mediation proportions.

METHOD

Single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with obesity, body fat and possible mediators were selected as instrumental variables from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS data for benign adrenal tumor cases (n = 1,790) and controls (n = 390,633) were obtained from the Finngen database. Univariable MR analysis was performed to evaluate the causal associations of obesity and body fat with benign adrenal tumors, with obesity and body fat quantified using ten anthropometric indicators. In addition, two-step MR was used to examine four categories of possible mediators (metabolic indicators, hormone indicators, inflammation and oxidation indicators, and diseases) to explore potential mechanisms between obesity, body fat, and benign adrenal tumors and to calculate mediation proportions.

RESULT

Our results show that all anthropometric indicators are risk factors for benign adrenal tumors (OR range from 1.59 to 2.49 with FDR < 0.05). In addition, two-step MR analysis shows that both total and bioavailable testosterone levels significantly mediate body fat percentage, trunk fat percentage, and trunk fat mass on benign adrenal tumors in women (mediation proportion: 4.07%-15.58%). In addition, bioavailable testosterone levels mediate whole body fat mass (10.95%) and body mass index (17.04%), while total testosterone levels mediate hip circumference (7.27%) in women.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that obesity and elevated body fat may serve as risk factors for benign adrenal tumors. Furthermore, we identify the mediating role of total/bioavailable testosterone levels in women, suggesting its potential target for prevention and intervention of benign adrenal tumors in individuals with obesity or high body fat.

Blood pressure improvement after resection of non-functioning adrenal adenomas: influencing factors and serum metabolic features

Introduction

Non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFAs) are typically regarded as benign tumors that lack hormonal secretion. However, emerging evidence has shown that some patients with NFAs and hypertension experience improvements in blood pressure after adrenalectomy, indicating a potential correlation between NFAs and hypertension. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms that underpin this phenomenon remain elusive.

Methods

We collected data from all patients with adrenal adenomas who underwent unilateral laparoscopic partial or total adrenalectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in 2023. A statistical analysis was conducted on factors such as tumor diameter, duration of hypertension, BMI, and age. Additionally, we gathered serum samples from six patients who experienced postoperative blood pressure improvement and six patients who did not. These samples were subjected to targeted and untargeted metabolomic analyses to identify significant serum metabolites.

Results

Our findings revealed that 50.9% of patients with NFAs and hypertension experienced blood pressure improvement after surgery. Additionally, patients in the improvement group (IG) exhibited larger tumor diameters alongside shorter durations of hypertension compared to their counterparts in the nonimprovement group (NIG). Untargeted metabolomic analysis identified 89 differentially abundant metabolites in the serum between the IG and NIG. In particular, we found that guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), a precursor of creatine synthesis that possibly participates in the occurrence of hypertension, was enriched in patients in the IG and reduced after surgery.

Discussion

The findings of our study indicated that duration of hypertension and tumor diameter may exert an influence on the extent of postoperative blood pressure improvement, and NFAs might promote hypertension through GAA-related creatine metabolism.

Differentiation of multiple adrenal adenoma subtypes based on a radiomics and clinico-radiological model: a dual-center study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and detection rates of adrenal incidentalomas have been on the rise globally, with more than 90% of these lesions pathologically classified as adrenocortical adenomas. Among these, approximately 30% of patients present with hormone-secreting adenomas, leading to the deterioration of their health, with some requiring surgical resection. The available methods for adrenal function evaluation are invasive and costly. Moreover, their accuracy is influenced by numerous factors. Therefore, it is imperative to develop non-invasive and simplified preoperative diagnostic approach.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on 169 patients from two tertiary medical centers. Subsequently, radiomics features were extracted after tumor margins were delineated layer-by-layer using a semi-automatic contouring approach. Feature selection was achieved in two cycles, with the first round utilizing a support vector machine (SVM) and the second round using a LASSO-based recursive feature elimination algorithm. Finally, logistic regression models were constructed using the clinico-radiological, radiomics, and a combination of both.

RESULTS

After a comprehensive evaluation of the predictive indicators, the logistic regression classifier model based on the combined clinico-radiological and radiomic features had an AUC of (0.945, 0.927, 0.856) for aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), (0.963, 0.889, 0.887) for cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA), and (0.940, 0.765, 0.816) for non-functioning adrenal adenoma (NAA) in the training set, validation set, and external test set, respectively. This model exhibited superior predictive performance in differentiating between the three adrenal adenoma subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

A logistic regression model was constructed using radiomics and clinico-radiological features derived from multi-phase enhanced CT images and conducted external validation. The combined model showed good overall performance, highlighting the feasibility of applying the model for preoperative differentiation and prediction of various types of ACA.

Myosteatosis and sarcopenia are linked to autonomous cortisol secretion in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas

Patients with adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) face elevated cardiovascular risks, especially when cortisol is co-secreted, yet the impact on muscle health remains unclear. Myosteatosis, characterized by fatty infiltration into muscles, is linked to cardiometabolic diseases and decreased survival. We aimed to investigate the association between autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) in APA and muscle quantity and quality. In this study, we analyzed data from 228 APA patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy between 2009 and 2024, assessing muscle composition via computed tomography. Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), skeletal muscle area and density, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue area at L3 were measured. Comparisons were made between ACS and non-ACS groups. We found that among 228 patients, 76 (33.3%) had ACS. Those with ACS exhibited significantly higher IMAT area (P = 0.042) and lower skeletal muscle area (P = 0.002) and density (P < 0.001). Multivariable regression confirmed ACS positively associated with IMAT area and negatively associated with skeletal muscle area and density. At 1-year follow-up, ACS patients (n = 15) experienced decreased IMAT area (P = 0.001) and increased skeletal muscle area (P = 0.031) post-adrenalectomy, while those without ACS (n = 29) showed no IMAT change but increased visceral (P < 0.001) and subcutaneous (P = 0.008) adipose tissue area. In summary, myosteatosis and sarcopenia are linked to ACS in APA patients, and these parameters improve following adrenalectomy.

Adrenal Volume Quantitative Visualization Tool by Multiple Parameters and an nnU-Net Deep Learning Automatic Segmentation Model

Abnormalities in adrenal gland size may be associated with various diseases. Monitoring the volume of adrenal gland can provide a quantitative imaging indicator for such conditions as adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal adenoma, and adrenal cortical adenocarcinoma. However, current adrenal gland segmentation models have notable limitations in sample selection and imaging parameters, particularly the need for more training on low-dose imaging parameters, which limits the generalization ability of the models, restricting their widespread application in routine clinical practice. We developed a fully automated adrenal gland volume quantification and visualization tool based on the no new U-Net (nnU-Net) for the automatic segmentation of deep learning models to address these issues. We established this tool by using a large dataset with multiple parameters, machine types, radiation doses, slice thicknesses, scanning modes, phases, and adrenal gland morphologies to achieve high accuracy and broad adaptability. The tool can meet clinical needs such as screening, monitoring, and preoperative visualization assistance for adrenal gland diseases. Experimental results demonstrate that our model achieves an overall dice coefficient of 0.88 on all images and 0.87 on low-dose CT scans. Compared to other deep learning models and nnU-Net model tools, our model exhibits higher accuracy and broader adaptability in adrenal gland segmentation.

Cortisol quantification in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry: Validation, analysis and application in a reference population and patients with adrenal incidentalomas

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone, which is involved in cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and behavioral processes in the human body. Immunoassays, used for routine analysis of analytes, usually lead to erroneous quantification due to the low specificity of these methods. In this study, we developed LC-MS/MS methods with surrogating matrices for evaluating cortisol in both urine and plasma samples and validated them according to Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency guidelines. Urine samples were prepared with an enzymatic hydrolysis stage, followed by a solid-phase extraction (C18 cartridges) using dichloromethane:methanol 9:1 as elution solvent. Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, using 50 μL of sample. HPLC was performed using a C8 column under 300 mL min-1 flow gradient conditions with water and methanol, both containing 5 mM ammonium formate and 0.1 % formic acid. Mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization in positive mode and selected reaction monitoring as detection technique were employed. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 1-200 ng mL-1 for urine (r2 = 0.9950) and 0.5-300 ng mL-1 for plasma (r2 = 0.9970). The methods were selective, showed suitable precision, accuracy, and sensibility (limit of quantification = 0.85 ng mL-1 for urine and 0.15 ng mL-1 for plasma). Validated methods were successful applied to 22 real samples and a cohort of patients [n = 63 urines and n = 79 plasmas (from the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)].

Cushing syndrome

Cushing syndrome (CS) is a constellation of signs and symptoms caused by excessive exposure to exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoid hormones. Endogenous CS is caused by increased cortisol production by one or both adrenal glands (adrenal CS) or by elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from a pituitary tumour (Cushing disease (CD)) or non-pituitary tumour (ectopic ACTH secretion), which stimulates excessive cortisol production. CS is associated with severe multisystem morbidity, including impaired cardiovascular and metabolic function, infections and neuropsychiatric disorders, which notably reduce quality of life. Mortality is increased owing to pulmonary emboli, infection, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accidents. The clinical presentation is variable and because some CS signs and symptoms are common in the general population, the diagnosis might not be considered until many features have accumulated. Guidelines recommend screening patients with suspected CS with 24-h urine cortisol, bedtime salivary cortisol and/or 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test. Subsequently, determining the aetiology of CS is important as it affects management. The first-line therapy for all aetiologies of endogenous CS is surgical resection of the causal tissue, including corticotroph adenoma or ectopic tumour for ACTH-dependent CS or unilateral or bilateral adrenalectomy for adrenal CS. Second-line therapies include steroidogenesis inhibitors for any cause of CS, pituitary radiation (with or without steroidogenesis inhibitors) for CD, and bilateral adrenalectomy for ACTH-dependent causes of CS.

Enhanced Chronic Inflammation and Increased Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Adrenal Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

CONTEXT

Patients with adrenal hormone excess demonstrate increased cardiovascular (CV) risk and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the effect of adrenal disorders on the inflammation marker glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA), total branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), ketone bodies, and the gut microbiome-derived metabolites trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study of patients with nonfunctioning adenomas (NFAs), mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), primary aldosteronism (PA), Cushing syndrome (CS), pheochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PPGLs), other benign or malignant adrenal masses, and adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) between January 2015 and July 2022 (n = 802). Referent individuals included participants in the PREVEND (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease) study (n = 5241). GlycA, BCAAs, ketone bodies, TMAO, and betaine were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multivariable logistic analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and statin therapy.

RESULTS

In age- and sex-adjusted comparison to referent individuals, increased GlycA was noted in all patient categories, increased BCAAs in NFA, MACS, CS, PA, and ACC, increased TMAO in patients with other malignant adrenal masses, increased betaine in NFA and MACS, and increased ketone bodies in NFA, CS, and ACC. Essentially similar findings were observed in fully adjusted analysis and after exclusion of participants with diabetes and CV disease.

CONCLUSION

Patients with functioning and nonfunctioning adrenal masses demonstrated increased GlycA and BCAAs, biomarkers associated with adverse cardiometabolic disorders and mortality. Patients with NFA demonstrated an adverse metabolic profile similar to patients with MACS and CS.

Evaluation of adrenal tumors and analysis of the metabolic profile of patients with incidentaloma

INTRODUCTION

Advances in imaging methods have led to an increasingly frequent diagnosis of adrenal gland lesions as incidental findings. Despite progress in this field, there is still limited information regarding the epidemiology of the clinical and metabolic profile of patients with adrenal incidentaloma (AI). The objective is analyze the epidemiology of adrenal tumors at Gaffrée e Guinle University Hospital (HUGG) and compare it with data from the literature.

METHOD

This is a cross-sectional study that included patients of any gender and age who was treated at HUGG for adrenal tumors.

RESULTS

The following variables were evaluated: age, gender, functionality, benignity, and size. We also analyzed the metabolic profile of patients with AI, specifically those with mild autonomy cortisol secretion. Out of 31 patients with adrenal tumors, 68% were female. The mean age was 55 years with a standard deviation of ±16.2. 54% of the sample had adrenal incidentalomas. 93.6% of the sample had benign cases. Among the adrenal incidentalomas, 53% were non-functioning. In patients with adrenal tumors, only 10% had metabolic syndrome, while in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion, this number rose to 17%.

CONCLUSION

The sample of patients with adrenal tumors and incidentaloma at HUGG presented a prevalence of metabolic complications similar to that found in the literature.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Hyponatremia and Hypokalemia in a Patient with Herpes Zoster: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature

We herein report a patient with herpes zoster (HZ), severe hyponatremia, and hypokalemia. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) leads to euvolemic hyponatremia and hypoosmotic plasma due to inadequate diuresis. Hyponatremia in the current patient was caused by SIAD and associated with HZ of the trigeminal facial nerve (V1). The patient also had hypokalemia, with excessive urinary potassium excretion and elevated cortisol levels. Hypokalemia is caused by hypercortisolemia, which is stimulated by HZ pain. Adequate treatment for HZ and comprehensive pain control play pivotal roles in improving SIAD, cortisol hypersecretion, and the subsequent electrolyte abnormalities.

Necrosis in Preoperative Cross-Sectional Imaging and Postoperative Histology Is a Diagnostic Marker for Malignancy of Adrenocortical Tumors

Necrosis in postoperative histology has been reported as being specific for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) compared to adenoma. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of the finding of necrosis in preoperative cross-sectional imaging and postoperative histology as a marker for ACC in our patient cohort. Among the 411 adrenalectomies in 396 patients performed between 2008 and April 2022, 30 cases of ACC (7.6%) were identified, with one tumor measuring less than 40 mm excluded. All 45 benign adrenocortical tumors of at least 40 mm in diameter, including Cushing, Conn, and hormonally inactive adenomas, served as controls. Preoperative imaging was available for 40 benign and 27 malignant adrenocortical tumors. In total, 10 of 40 (25%) benign adrenocortical tumors and 22 of 27 (81%) ACCs showed signs of possible necrosis in preoperative imaging. Pathologic examination confirmed necrosis in 1 of 40 (2.5%) benign tumors and in 26 out of 27 (96%) malignant tumors. The specificities of possible necrosis in preoperative imaging and necrosis in histology for diagnosing ACC were 75% and 97.5%, respectively, whereas the sensitivities were 81% and 96%, respectively. Signs of possible necrosis in radiologic imaging and tumor necrosis in histology proved to be very good predictive markers for the diagnosis of malignant adrenocortical tumors.

Autonomous cortisol secretion promotes vascular calcification in vivo and in vitro under hyperaldosteronism

Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) is not uncommon in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). However, the cardiovascular burden of ACS due to its dysregulated cortisol secretion remains poorly understood. Thus, we examined the effects of ACS on vascular calcification in a hyperaldosteronism environment in vitro and in vivo. A total of 339 patients with PA with adrenal incidentaloma and low-dose dexamethasone suppression test data (cutoff level: cortisol > 1.8 μg/dL) from a prospectively maintained database were enrolled; abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) scores were quantitatively estimated. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAOSMCs) were used as in vitro model of vascular calcification. In this study, 65 of the 339 patients with PA had ACS; 274 did not. Patients with PA/ACS had a higher AAC score (1171.0 ± 2434.0 vs. 489.5 ± 1085.3, P = 0.012) than patients without ACS. ACS was independently associated with AAC score (β = 0.139, P = 0.004) in multivariate analysis, and post-suppression cortisol level was significantly correlated with the AAC score (P = 0.004). In the HAOSMC model, co-treatment with cortisol synergistically stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition in a hyperaldosteronism environment. The stimulatory effect of cortisol was abolished by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist eplerenone, but not glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone, indicating a MR-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, the presence of ACS is associated with heavier vascular calcification in patients with PA. Aldosterone and cortisol synergistically activate HAOSMC calcification via MR signaling, via a process that can be attenuated by eplerenone.

[18F]FDG-PET/CT in adrenal lesions: diagnostic performance in different clinical settings

PURPOSE

Data regarding [18F]FDG-PET/CT for the characterization of adrenal lesions are limited. Most of the studies proposed the tumor-to-liver maximum standardized uptake values (SUVratio) > 1.5 as the best cut off to predict malignancy. The aim of the study was to calculate the optimum cut off in a heterogeneous population with adrenal lesions and evaluate the diagnostic performance SUVratio >1.5.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of adrenal lesions undergoing [18F]FDG-PET/CT (2013-2022) for different reasons (atypical adrenal incidentalomas, extra adrenal tumor staging). The diagnosis of benignity was assessed by: (i) histology; (ii) stability or minimal diameter increase (<20%/<5 mm) on 12-months follow-up for non-operated patients. The optimal SUVratio and performance of SUVratio >1.5 were calculated by ROC curves.

RESULTS

Forty-two consecutive lesions (diameter 36.1 ± 20.3 mm, 6 bilateral) underwent [18F]FDG-PET/CT (19F, age 61.2 ± 11.7 years). Twenty-nine lesions were benign, 11 malignant [8 metastases (2 bilateral) and 1 adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC)] and 2 pheochromocytomas. The SUVratio cut-off in our population was 1.55 (Sn 100%, Sp 73.7%, AUC 0.868), with similar values excluding pheochromocytomas and metastases (SUVratio cut-off 1.49, Sn 100%, Sp 96.3%, AUC 0.988). The SUVratio cut-off of 1.5 showed 100% Sn, 87% Sp, 73% PPV, and 100% NPV.

CONCLUSION

[18F]FDG-PET/CT could help in decision making process avoiding unnecessary surgery. The SUVratio cut-off of 1.5 has a good performance in a heterogenous population.

New Approaches to the Treatment of Hypercortisolism

This review explores the evolving landscape of treatments for hypercortisolism, highlighting both established and emerging therapies. Although surgery remains the cornerstone of management, medical therapies play a crucial and expanding role, especially in cases of persistent, recurrent, or severe hypercortisolism. We discuss the effectiveness and limitations of steroidogenesis inhibitors, pituitary-directed drugs, glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, and experimental drugs targeting novel molecular pathways that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypercortisolism. Despite advancements, significant unmet needs persist, underscoring the importance of personalized treatment approaches and the development of targeted therapies. Ongoing and future clinical trials are crucial for validating the safety and efficacy of these innovative treatments in Cushing disease management.

Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia with unilateral functional adrenal cortical adenoma: case report

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders related to adrenal steroid biosynthesis, and mainly caused by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene encoding 21-hydroxylase. Adrenal tumors are common in CAH, but functional adrenal tumors are rare. Here, we report a 17-year-old female with virilized external genitalia and primary amenorrhea, accompanied by a right adrenal tumor. Her 17-OHP level was normal, cortisol and androgen levels were significantly elevated, and the tumor pathology showed adrenal cortical adenoma. Gene testing for CYP21A2 showed c.518T > A in exon 4 and c.29313C > G in intron 2. The possibility of untreated classic CAH with 21-OH deficiency causing functional adrenal cortical adenoma should be considered. When clinical diagnosis highly considers CAH and cannot rule out the influence of functional adrenal tumors' secretion function on 17-OHP, gene mutation analysis should be performed.

Management of patients with adrenal myelolipoma: experience from a tertiary referral centre

BACKGROUND

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, benign, tumours of the adrenal cortex.

AIMS

This study reports the experience of a tertiary adrenal surgery referral centre's approach to the management of patients with adrenal myelolipoma.

METHODS

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on all adult patients (> 18 years age) diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma from January 1, 2014, to December 30, 2022. Demographics, imaging characteristics, histological diagnosis (where applicable) and follow-up data were compared between patients undergoing surgery and those referred to surveillance. Indications for operative intervention were recorded at the time of multidisciplinary team discussion, consisting of surgeons, endocrinology physicians, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nursing representatives.

RESULTS

Of the 522 patients with an adrenal lesion discussed in adrenal tumour meeting between 2014 and 2022, n = 15 (2.8%) were diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma. Of the 15 patients, 4 underwent adrenalectomy at first presentation (27%), while 1 patient underwent adrenalectomy after interval follow-up. Indications for operative intervention were as follows: 'indeterminate lesion' (n = 3), 'abdominal pain and size (> 4 cm)' (n = 1) and 'mass effect on adjacent organs' (n = 1). The mean rate of lesion growth in patients referred for surveillance (n = 10) was 0.13 cm/year. Histology confirmed adrenal myelolipoma as the diagnosis in all resected tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with adrenal myelolipoma, the presence of symptoms and/or indeterminate features on imaging may be more clinically useful indications for operative intervention over size alone. The surveillance of adrenal myelolipomas, even in patients with adrenal lesions > 4 cm, is a safe clinical strategy, provided the imaging characteristics are benign and patients remain asymptomatic.

Diagnosis and management of adrenal incidentaloma: use of clinical judgment and evidence in dialog with the patient

The prevalence of adrenal incidentaloma (AI) in imaging studies, including those of the adrenal glands, is estimated to be 1-5%. Essential factors for the proper management of AI include a correct diagnosis, adequate surgical skills, appropriate perioperative management, and sound dialogue with the patient. Aside from the possibility of overdiagnosis, patients with apparent signs or symptoms attributable to adrenal hormone excess have reasonable indications for surgery. At the same time, milder patients may be candidates for active surveillance without intervention. Even individuals with nonfunctioning AI may benefit from surgery if imaging studies depict the tumor as suggestive of malignancy. However, a differential diagnosis of AI may not be easy for surgeons with little experience in seeing such patients.Furthermore, a patient without a correct diagnosis may miss the window of opportunity for a cure or incur a greater risk of developing complications, such as adrenal insufficiency or cardiovascular events during or after surgery, due to inadequate management. The clinical practice guidelines for AI from around the world may be helpful for shared decision-making; however, Japan lacks established guidelines. In this review article, we propose practical guidelines relevant to management by summarizing the evidence for five key questions that are often asked in dialog with patients with AI.

An Unusual Case of Acute Abdomen With Jaundice

Adrenocortical carcinomas are rare but aggressive tumors that are frequently discovered as incidentalomas. Secretory tumors often lead to endocrine abnormalities, namely cushingoid features, virilization, or feminization. Non-functioning tumors, on the other hand, can be completely dormant with an insidious course or cause malaise, weight loss, abdominal pain, etc. Biochemical testing must be pursued in all patients with incidentalomas to detect pheochromocytoma, excess cortisol, or aldosterone secretion. In this report, we describe the case of a 37-year-old man who was lost to follow-up for two years following diagnosis with adrenal incidentaloma. This led to delayed diagnosis of adrenal carcinoma and eventual mortality. Periodic surveillance of adrenal incidentalomas is therefore imperative for timely interception of malignant lesions.

Mature Adrenal Ganglioneuroma With Lipomatous Content: A Radiological and Histopathological Diagnostic Challenge

Adrenal incidentalomas are increasingly identified through advanced imaging, posing diagnostic challenges due to their varied benign and malignant nature. We present the case of a 29-year-old male who, during evaluation for left renal colic, was found to have a 5.5 cm heterogeneous right adrenal mass on non-contrast CT, initially suggestive of a myelolipoma. Subsequent contrast-enhanced CT supported this diagnosis. However, due to the size of the mass and potential complications, the patient underwent a robotic-assisted adrenalectomy. Histopathological examination unexpectedly revealed a 6.5 cm adrenal ganglioneuroma. This case highlights the difficulties in accurately diagnosing adrenal incidentalomas based solely on imaging, as the features of ganglioneuromas and myelolipomas can occasionally overlap significantly. Ultimately, while imaging plays a critical role in initial assessment, definitive diagnosis often requires histological analysis, underscoring the challenges posed by adrenal incidentalomas in clinical practice.

Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) - Related Osteoporosis

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) has thus far been associated with several comorbidities, among which osteoporosis and fractures appear to be highly prevalent. Recent guidelines for adrenal incidentalomas have updated the definition of MACS, currently formulated on serum cortisol after a 1-mg dexamethasone test above 1.8 µg/dL or 50 nmol/L. Previous studies on bone health in adrenal incidentalomas had adopted different definitions of MACS, producing heterogeneous results in terms of fracture prevalence. This review aims to summarize the clinical impact of MACS in relation to fractures, bone quantity and quality, by providing a thorough update on MACS-related osteoporosis (MACS-ROP). This area has a large room for research, and management of this comorbidity still needs to be elucidated.

Cardiometabolic comorbidities and cardiovascular events in "non-functioning" adrenal incidentalomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies investigated the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or prediabetes, dyslipidemia (DL), metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI). We aimed to investigate the available literature to determine the prevalence of AH, DM, DM and/or prediabetes (Composite DM, C-DM), DL, MS and CVE in patients with NFAI as compared to patients without adrenal incidentalomas (AI).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed using studies that evaluated the prevalence of AH, DM, C-DM, DL, MS and CVE in patients with NFAI versus matched subjects without AI. A random-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird) was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) for each outcome.

RESULTS

Among the 36 available studies, 19 studies provided the necessary data (4716 subjects, mean age 57.6 ± 4.6). The association between AH, DM, C-DM, DL, MS and CVE was reported in 18 (4546 subjects), 7 (1743 subjects), 5 (4315 subjects), 11 (3820 subjects), 8 (1170 subjects) and 5 (2972 subjects), respectively. The presence of NFAI was associated with AH (OR 1.87, 95%CI 1.39-2.51), C-DM (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.70-2.45) and MS (OR 2.89, 95%CI 1.93-4.32), but not with DM, DL and CVE.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NFAI have higher prevalence of AH, C-DM and MS than control subjects without NFAI.

Cardiovascular status in endogenous cortisol excess: the prospective CV-CORT-EX study

OBJECTIVE

Cushing's syndrome (CS) results in increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Subtype-specific differences and possible reversibility after biochemical cure are not well investigated.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study evaluating the CV status in different forms of endogenous cortisol excess.

METHODS

Patients with overt CS (n = 40, 47 ± 13 years, 75% women; 18 pituitary, 13 adrenal, and 9 ectopic), biochemically cured CS (n = 56, 53 ± 12 years, 79% women; 30 pituitary, 21 adrenal, and 5 ectopic), and adrenal incidentalomas with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) (n = 18, 62 ± 11 years, 56% women) underwent comprehensive biochemical, metabolic, and CV assessment. Results were compared with a representative sample of the general population of Würzburg (n = 4965, 55 ± 12 years, 52% women).

RESULTS

Overt CS was associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling along with hypertrophy and impaired longitudinal systolic/diastolic function at echocardiography. In 20 CS patients followed for a median of 8 (quartiles: 6, 11) months after biochemical remission, hypertension, and hyperglycemia were better controlled, while cardiac alterations only partially improved. Patients with previous CS (median time of biochemical remission: 95 [36, 201] months) had worse diastolic function than the general population (LV relaxation velocity e' 0.08 [0.07, 0.10] ms-1 vs 0.10 [0.08, 0.12] ms-1, P < .001). In MACS, cardiac remodeling was even more pronounced than in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with overt CS, cured CS, and MACS, we found a sizable and significant deviation from the general population mean regarding cardiac structure and function. Even mild cortisol excess is associated with glucocorticoid-induced cardiac alterations, which appear to persist despite long-term biochemical remission.

Survival and Prognostic Factors After Adrenalectomy for Secondary Malignancy: A Combined Analysis of a French University Center Registry (Eurocrine) of 307 Patients and a French Nationwide Study of 2515 Patients

OBJECTIVE

To provide a nationwide description of postoperative outcomes and analysis of prognostic factors following adrenalectomy for metastases.

BACKGROUND

Adrenal glands are a common site of metastases in many malignancies. Diagnosis of adrenal metastases is on the rise, leading to an increasing number of patient candidates for surgery without consensual management.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based study between January 2012 and December 2022 using the French National Health Data System (SNDS) and the Eurocrine registry (NCT03410394). The first database exhaustively covers all procedures carried out in France, while the second provides more clinical information on procedures and tumor characteristics, based on the experience of 11 specialized centers.

RESULTS

From the SNDS, we extracted 2515 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for secondary malignancy and 307 from the Eurocrine database. The most common primary malignancies were lung cancer (n=1203, 47.8%) and renal cancer (n=555, 22.1%). One-year survival was 84.3% (n=2120). Thirty-day mortality and morbidity rates were, respectively, 1.3% (n=32) and 29.9% (n=753, including planned intensive care unit - stays). Radiotherapy within the year before adrenalectomy was significantly associated with higher 30-day major complication rates ( P =0.039). In the Eurocrine database, the proportion of laparoscopic procedures reached 85.3% without impairing resection completeness (R0: 92.9%). Factors associated with poor overall survival were the presence of extra-adrenal metastases (hazard ratio =0.64; P =0.031) and incomplete resection (≥R1; hazard ratio=0.41; P =0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of patients who can receive local treatment for adrenal metastases is rising, and adrenalectomy is more often minimally invasive and has a low morbidity rate. Subsequent research should evaluate which patients would benefit from adrenal surgery.