RESUMEN
Adrenal lesions are frequently incidentally diagnosed during investigations for other clinical conditions. Despite being usually benign, nonfunctioning, and silent, they can occasionally cause discomfort or be responsible for various clinical conditions due to hormonal dysregulation; therefore, their characterization is of paramount importance for establishing the best therapeutic strategy. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and PET-TC, providing anatomical and functional information, play a central role in the diagnostic workup, allowing clinicians and surgeons to choose the optimal lesion management. This review aims at providing an overview of the most encountered adrenal lesions, both benign and malignant, including describing their imaging characteristics.
RESUMEN
New radioimaging techniques, exploiting the quantitative variables of imaging, permit to identify an hypothetical pathological tissue. We have applied this potential in a series of 72 adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) followed at our center, subdivided in functioning and non-functioning using laboratory findings. Each AI was studied in the preliminary non-contrast phase with a specific software (Mazda), surrounding a region of interest within each lesion. A total of 314 features were extrapolated. Mean and standard deviations of features were obtained and the difference in means between the two groups was statistically analyzed. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify an optimal cutoff for each variable and a prediction model was constructed via multivariate logistic regression with backward and stepwise selection. A 11-variable prediction model was constructed, and a ROC curve was used to differentiate patients with high probability of functioning AI. Using a threshold value of >-275.147, we obtained a sensitivity of 93.75% and a specificity of 100% in diagnosing functioning AI. On the basis of these results, computed tomography (CT) texture analysis appears a promising tool in the diagnostic definition of AIs.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de las Glándulas Suprarrenales , Neoplasias de las Glándulas Suprarrenales/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Hidrocortisona , Aprendizaje Automático , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Paraganglioma (PGL) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Currently, the malignancy is defined as the presence of metastatic spread at presentation or during follow-up. Several gene mutations are listed in the pathogenesis of PGL, among which succinate dehydrogenase (SDHX), particularly the SDHB isoform, is the main gene involved in malignancy. A 55-year-old male without evidence of catecholamine secretion had surgery for PGL of the urinary bladder. After 1 year, he showed a relapse of disease and demonstrated malignant PGL without evidence of catecholamine secretion with a germline heterozygous mutation of succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB). After failure of a second surgery for relapse, he started medical treatment with sunitinib daily but discontinued due to serious side effects. Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine (CVD) chemotherapeutic regimen stopped the disease progression for 7 months. CONCLUSION: Malignant PGL is a very rare tumor, and SDHB mutations must be always considered in molecular diagnosis because they represent a critical event in the progression of the oncological disease. Currently, there are few therapeutic protocols, and it is often difficult, as this case demonstrates, to decide on a treatment option according to a reasoned set of choices.
Asunto(s)
Antineoplásicos , Indoles , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia , Paraganglioma , Pirroles , Succinato Deshidrogenasa/genética , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/administración & dosificación , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/efectos adversos , Antineoplásicos/administración & dosificación , Antineoplásicos/clasificación , Humanos , Indoles/administración & dosificación , Indoles/efectos adversos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mutación , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , Paraganglioma/genética , Paraganglioma/patología , Paraganglioma/terapia , Pirroles/administración & dosificación , Pirroles/efectos adversos , Sunitinib , Resultado del Tratamiento , Vejiga Urinaria/patología , Vejiga Urinaria/cirugía , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/patología , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/secundario , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/cirugíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Combined use of low-mechanical-index technologies and non-air-filled contrast media allows real-time sonographic assessment of the spleen. This pictorial essay focuses on several aspects of contrast-enhanced sonography of the spleen, including examination technique, clinical indications, normal findings obtained through all vascular phases, abnormal findings (splenomegaly, infarction, abscess, benign tumors, lymphoma, metastasis, injuries, and accessory spleen), limitations, and pitfalls. CONCLUSION: Real-time, contrast-enhanced sonography is a novel technique allowing depiction of a wide range of splenic abnormalities.