Imaging
Adrenal hyperplasia
- Preliminary Diagnosis: Adrenal Hyperplasia
-
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
- II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of adrenal hyperplasia.
-
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
-
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
- V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosis of adrenal hyperplasia.
- VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
Preliminary Diagnosis: Adrenal Hyperplasia
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
CT scanning without intravenous contrast and without oral contrast
II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of adrenal hyperplasia.
Advantages
CT scan without contrast is able to visualize adrenal hyperplasia.
CT scans are relatively quick imaging procedures that require minimal patient cooperation and are less susceptible to motion artifact.
Disadvantages
Exposure to ionizing radiation
Rarely, hyperplastic adrenal glands may appear nodular and mimic solitary or multiple adenomas.
Metastatic diease, tuberculosis, and histoplasmosis may have a similar appearance.
Half of biochemically hyperplastic glands may appear normal.
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
CT scanning is contraindicated in pregnant patients, especially within the first two trimesters.
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
Ultrasound
MRI
V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosis of adrenal hyperplasia.
Ultrasound
Advantages
May demonstrate bilateral diffuse enlargement or multiple bilateral small nodules
Relatively inexpensive
Portable imaging modality
Does not use ionizing radiation
For pregnant patients, it is the first choice of imaging.
Disadvantages
Technically challenging in the adult
Limited evaluation in obese patients
MRI
Advantages
MRI without contrast is able to identify bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.
May be able to characterize adrenal adenoma
There is no ionizing radiation exposure.
Disadvantages
Expensive
Time consuming
Requires marked patient cooperation to limit motion artifact
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
Ultrasound
No significant contraindications exist.
MRI
Hazards exist for patients who have ferromagnetic devices implanted in their bodies.
Copyright © 2017, 2014 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. The Licensed Content is the property of and copyrighted by DSM.
Sign Up for Free e-newsletters
ONA Articles
- FDA: Number of U.S. Women With Breast Implant-Caused Cancer Has Increased
- Takeda to Collaborate With MSKCC on CAR-T Therapies for Multiple Myeloma
- Sequential Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy Linked to Cutaneous Adverse Events in Advanced Melanoma
- Immunotherapy for HER2-positive Breast Cancer: Recent Advances and Combination Therapeutic Approaches
- NIH Establishes Educational Program on Genomics, Genetics for Oncology Nurses
- Oncology Nurse Navigation Facilitates Timely Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
- Helping Patients Face the Challenge of Eating Healthy During Cancer Treatment
- Oncology Nurses Weigh In on Their Patient-Centered Communication Practices, Needs
- Substitute for Lidocaine
- CART cell therapy for prostate cancer: status and promise
- Immunotherapy for HER2-positive Breast Cancer: Recent Advances and Combination Therapeutic Approaches
- Survey Demonstrates Relationship Between Symptom Burden, Medical Disability Leave Among Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
- A Review of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Early-Stage Burkitt Lymphoma
- FDA: Number of U.S. Women With Breast Implant-Caused Cancer Has Increased
- USPSTF Still Recommends Against Pancreatic Cancer Screening
Regimen and Drug Listings
GET FULL LISTINGS OF TREATMENT Regimens and Drug INFORMATION
Bone Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Brain Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Breast Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Endocrine Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Gastrointestinal Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Genitourinary Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Gynecologic Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Head and Neck Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Hematologic Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Lung Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Other Cancers | Regimens | |
Rare Cancers | Regimens | |
Skin Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |