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 2,515 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a nationwide description of postoperative outcomes and analysis of prognostic factors following adrenalectomy for metastases. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Adrenal glands are a common site of metastases in many malignancies. Diagnosisof 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 2,515 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for secondary malignancy and 307 from the Eurocrine® database. The most common primary malignancies were lung cancer (n=1,203, 47.8%) and renal cancer (n=555, 22.1%). One-year survival was 84.3% (n=2,120). Thirty-day mortality and morbidity rates were, respectively, 1.3% (n=32) and 29.9% (n=753, including planned ICU 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 presence of extra-adrenal metastases (HR=0.64; P=0.031) and incomplete resection (≥R1; HR=0.41; P=0.015). CONCLUSION: 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.

Recurrence After Surgery for Primary Hyperparathyroidism in 517 Patients With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1: An Association Francophone de Chirurgie Endocrinienne and Groupe d'étude des Tumeurs Endocrines study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess recurrence according to the type of surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 ( MEN1 ) patients and to identify the risk factors for recurrence after the initial surgery. BACKGROUND: In MEN1 patients, pHPT is multiglandular, and the optimal extent of initial parathyroid resection influences the risk of recurrence. METHODS: MEN1 patients who underwent initial surgery for pHPT between 1990 and 2019 were included. Persistence and recurrence rates after less than subtotal parathyroidectomy (LTSP) and subtotal parathyroidectomy (STP) were analyzed. Patients with total parathyroidectomy with reimplantation were excluded. RESULTS: Five hundred seventeen patients underwent their first surgery for pHPT: 178 had LTSP (34.4%) and 339 STP (65.6%). The recurrence rate was significantly higher after LTSP (68.5%) than STP (45%) ( P < 0.001). The median time to recurrence after pHPT surgery was significantly shorter after LTSP than after STP: 4.25 (1.2-7.1) versus 7.2 (3.9-10.1) years ( P < 0.001). A mutation in exon 10 was an independent risk factor of recurrence after STP (odds ratio = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.31; 3.69; P = 0.003). The 5 and 10-year recurrent pHPT probabilities were significantly higher in patients after LTSP with a mutation in exon 10 (37% and 79% vs 30% and 61%; P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Persistence, recurrence of pHPT, and reoperation rate are significantly lower after STP than LTSP in MEN1 patients. Genotype seems to be associated with the recurrence of pHPT. A mutation in exon 10 is an independent risk factor for recurrence after STP, and LTSP may not be recommended when exon 10 is mutated.

Cinacalcet Reverses Short QT Interval in Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia Type 1.

CONTEXT: Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 1 (FHH-1) defines an autosomal dominant disease, related to mutations in the CASR gene, with mild hypercalcemia in most cases. Cases of FHH-1 with a short QT interval have not been reported to date. OBJECTIVE: Three family members presented with FHH-1 and short QT interval (<360 ms), a condition that could lead to cardiac arrhythmias, and the effects of cinacalcet, an allosteric modulator of the CaSR, in rectifying the abnormal sensitivity of the mutant CaSR and in correcting the short QT interval were determined. METHODS: CASR mutational analysis was performed by next-generation sequencing and functional consequences of the identified CaSR variant (p.Ile555Thr), and effects of cinacalcet were assessed in HEK293 cells expressing wild-type and variant CaSRs. A cinacalcet test consisting of administration of 30 mg cinacalcet (8 Am) followed by hourly measurement of serum calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone during 8 hours and an electrocardiogram was performed. RESULTS: The CaSR variant (p.Ile555Thr) was confirmed in all 3 FHH-1 patients and was shown to be associated with a loss of function that was ameliorated by cinacalcet. Cinacalcet decreased parathyroid hormone by >50% within two hours, and decreases in serum calcium and increases in serum phosphate occurred within 8 hours, with rectification of the QT interval, which remained normal after 3 months of cinacalcet treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that FHH-1 patients should be assessed for a short QT interval and a cinacalcet test used to select patients who are likely to benefit from this treatment.

Accidental parathyroidectomy during total thyroidectomy and hypoparathyroidism in a large series of 766 patients: incidence and consequences in a referral center.

PURPOSE: Transient hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy, and accidental parathyroidectomy (AP) may be a cause. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of AP and its impact on postoperative calcemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2016 to May 2018, 766 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were prospectively included. Surgical indications, hormonal status, definitive histology, and postoperative calcium and PTH levels were analyzed. RESULTS: 578/(75.45%) were women and 188/(24.55%) men with mean age of 53.4 years. Parathyroid tissue on the thyroid specimen was observed in 40 (5.2%) patients: 30 APs and 10 parathyroid fragments. Among the 30 APs, 12 glands were intrathyroid and 18 (2.3%) in eutopic location. 97 (12.6%) patients were treated for postoperative hypocalcemia: 90 (11.7%) had transient and 5 (0.6%) definitive hypoparathyroidism; 2 were lost in follow-up. 13/30 (43.3%) with AP had transient hypoparathyroidism. A strong correlation was found (p < 0.0001) between AP and postoperative hypocalcemia. 1/30 (3.3%) patient with APs had definitive hypoparathyroidism. Transient and persistent nerve palsies were found in 10 (1.3%) and 3 (0.4%) patients, respectively. DISCUSSION: A careful examination of the thyroid gland after resection help to identify an AP that could be autotransplanted. Surgeon and hospital activity volume per years seem to reduce the risk of hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy and intrathyroid localization of parathyroid glands are risk factors for the AP. The incidence of AP was 2.3%, and this remains low due to our longstanding experience in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Extent of thyroidectomy: When should hemithyroidectomy be performed? Recommendations from the Francophone Association for Endocrine Surgery, the French Society of Endocrinology and the French Society of Nuclear Medicine.

These recommendations, drawn from current data in the medical literature, incorporate the risks of hemithyroidectomy (HT) and total thyroidectomy (TT) and clarify the place of these two procedures in clinical settings. Discussions leading to a consensus were then assessed by the Francophone Association for Endocrine Surgery (Association francophone de chirurgie endocrinienne [AFCE]), along with the French Society of Endocrinology (Société française d'endocrinologie [SFE]), and the French Society of Nuclear Medicine (Société française de médecine nucléaire [SFMN]). The complication rate was twice as high after TT compared to HT. Total thyroidectomy requires life-long thyroid hormone supplementation, whereas such supplementation is required in only 30% of patients after HT. When surgery is indicated for Bethesda category II nodules, and in the absence of any indication for surgery on the contralateral lobe, HT is recommended. In patients with thyroid cancer (TC)≤1cm requiring surgical management or TC≤2cm, in the absence of risk factors for TC and in the absence of pre- or intraoperative detection of extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases (cN0) and/or suspected contra-lateral disease, HT is the preferred technique as long as the patient accepts the possibility of TT which might be required when aggressive forms of cancer are detected on definitive cytohistology (extrathyroidal extension, lymphovascular invasion, high-grade histology). For TC measuring between 2 and 4cm, the debate between HT and TT remains open today, although some surgeons tend to prefer TT. In patients with TC>4cm, macroscopic lymph node involvement (cN1), signs of extrathyroidal extension or predisposing factors for TC, TT is the treatment of choice.

Prevention and management of post-thyroidectomy cervical haematoma. Recommendations of the AFCE (Association francophone de chirurgie endocrinienne) with the SFE (Société française d'endocrinologie) and the SFMN (Société française de médecine nucléaire).

Post-thyroidectomy cervical haematoma (PTCH) requiring reoperation occurs in fewer than 5% of patients but can be fatal or leave severe neurological sequelae if compressive. Risk factors besides anticoagulant treatments are discussed. Preoperative prevention complies with the recommendations of the French Society of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation (SFAR) for the management of antiaggregants and anticoagulants before and after the operation. Intraoperative prevention is centred on careful haemostasis, sometimes aided by coagulation tools and haemostatic agents, although there is no firm evidence of their effectiveness against the occurrence of PTCH. Systematic drainage of the thyroid cavity is no longer standard practice for the prevention of PTCH. Postoperatively, maintenance of normal blood pressure is essential to prevent PTCH, together with control of pain, coughing, nausea and vomiting. To reduce the risk of serious complications, medical and paramedical teams must be trained to recognise a haematoma and manage it so that it can be evacuated as a matter of extreme urgency, if necessary bedside, and then treated for its cause in the operating theatre.

HCG-responsive aldosteronoma with transient secretion during pregnancy confirmed through HCG-stimulated adrenal venous sampling.

Primary aldosteronism can be regulated by the ectopic expression of G-protein coupled receptors in aldosteronomas or bilateral hyperplasias. We report a rare case of a young woman in whom 2 pregnancies were complicated by pre-eclampsia and 1 miscarriage. The transient primary aldosteronism during pregnancies suggested the possibility of HCG stimulated aberrant adrenal expression of LHCG receptor in her adrenal tissues. This was supported by increased aldosterone and renin suppression during 5-day HCG stimulation test outside of pregnancy. Following a second 5-day HCG stimulation test, bilateral simultaneous adrenal vein sampling identified a lateralized source of aldosterone from an 8 mm right adrenal nodule. A right laparoscopic adrenalectomy resulted in clinical and biochemical cure and allowed a further uneventful pregnancy a few years later. This case illustrates the indication to investigate for potential primary aldosteronism in woman with transient hypertension during pregnancy.

SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus on the management of thyroid nodules: Surgical treatment.

The SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus deals with the management of thyroid nodules, a condition that is a frequent reason for consultation in endocrinology. In more than 90% of cases, patients are euthyroid, with benign non-progressive nodules that do not warrant specific treatment. The clinician's objective is to detect malignant thyroid nodules at risk of recurrence and death, toxic nodules responsible for hyperthyroidism or compressive nodules warranting treatment. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules requires close collaboration between endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and surgeons, but also involves other specialists. Therefore, this consensus statement was established jointly by 3 societies: the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), French-speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN); the various working groups included experts from other specialties (pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, biologists, etc.). This section deals with the surgical management of thyroid nodules.

SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 Consensus on the management of thyroid nodules : Thyroid nodules and pregnancy.

The SFE-AFCE-SFMN 2022 consensus deals with the management of thyroid nodules, a condition that is a frequent reason for consultation in endocrinology. In more than 90% of cases, patients are euthyroid, with benign non-progressive nodules that do not warrant specific treatment. The clinician's objective is to detect malignant thyroid nodules at risk of recurrence and death, toxic nodules responsible for hyperthyroidism or compressive nodules warranting treatment. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules requires close collaboration between endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and surgeons, but also involves other specialists. Therefore, this consensus statement was established jointly by 3 societies: the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), French Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN); the various working groups included experts from other specialties (pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, biologists, etc.). The present section deals with the epidemiology and specificities of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules in pregnant women.

Diagnostic Rechallenge with 18F-FCH PET/CT Often Allows Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy While Maintaining Exceptional Cure Rates.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) has gained acceptance as the preferred surgical procedure for management of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Appropriate selection of patients for a MIP is a crucial step in its utilization. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of 18F-FCH PET/CT as second-line imaging for accurately directing MIP. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center study. Seventy-two patients with biochemical evidence of pHPT and a non-conclusive or negative first-line imaging (ultrasound and dual isotope subtraction scintigraphy) received 18F-FCH PET/CT between January 2018 and February 2020. All imaging studies were performed at our institution. Assessment of therapeutic changes and outcomes was performed. RESULTS: of the 72 patients imaged with 18F-FCH PET/CT, 54 subsequently underwent parathyroidectomy. When considering the ability of 18F-FCH PET/CT alone to predict a uniglandular disease, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 92.7% (95%CI: 80.1-98.5), 46.2% (19.2-74.9), PPV 87.3% (80.5-92) and NPV 61.2% (31.4-84.5), respectively. When we combined the data provided by 18F-FCH PET/CT with the data already collected from 1st line imaging we were able to complete a minimally invasive surgery in 38 of the 41 (92%) patients with a uniglandular disease. Thirteen patients (24%) had a multiglandular disease, all of them except one underwent bilateral neck exploration based on the data collected by all imaging modalities combined. Overall, cure was achieved in 53 (98%) patients. CONCLUSION: 18F-FCH PET/CT, interpreted along with first-line imaging results in selected patients, can better facilitate utilization of MIS while maintaining exceptional cure rates.

Controversies about the systematic preoperative pharmacological treatment before pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma surgery.

The question of systematic use of a pharmacological treatment before surgery in patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) remains highly controversial. While recent guidelines suggest that this should be used in all patients, some experienced teams consider it unnecessary in some cases, provided the surgery is performed in a dedicated center that has expert endocrinologists, cardiologists, surgeons, and anesthetists. This controversy is aimed at shedding light on the potential benefits and risks of such a treatment, focusing specifically on alpha blockers which are considered as the first-line medical treatments in patients with PPGL. After discussing the rationale for alpha blockers, hemodynamic instability, tolerance, and acute cardiac complications will then be discussed in the first part of the manuscript, defending a systematic use. The second section will focus on blood pressure control, tolerance of alpha blockers, and also the management of normotensive PPGL, examining the daily risks of PPGL and arguing against the systematic use of a preoperative pharmacological treatment before surgery. Finally, we will discuss the concept of expert centers and define the patients in whom the risk/benefit profile would favor the use of this preoperative treatment.

Classification of pig calls produced from birth to slaughter according to their emotional valence and context of production.

Vocal expression of emotions has been observed across species and could provide a non-invasive and reliable means to assess animal emotions. We investigated if pig vocal indicators of emotions revealed in previous studies are valid across call types and contexts, and could potentially be used to develop an automated emotion monitoring tool. We performed an analysis of an extensive and unique dataset of low (LF) and high frequency (HF) calls emitted by pigs across numerous commercial contexts from birth to slaughter (7414 calls from 411 pigs). Our results revealed that the valence attributed to the contexts of production (positive versus negative) affected all investigated parameters in both LF and HF. Similarly, the context category affected all parameters. We then tested two different automated methods for call classification; a neural network revealed much higher classification accuracy compared to a permuted discriminant function analysis (pDFA), both for the valence (neural network: 91.5%; pDFA analysis weighted average across LF and HF (cross-classified): 61.7% with a chance level at 50.5%) and context (neural network: 81.5%; pDFA analysis weighted average across LF and HF (cross-classified): 19.4% with a chance level at 14.3%). These results suggest that an automated recognition system can be developed to monitor pig welfare on-farm.

Predicting risk factors of postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy: is safe discharge without supplementation possible? A large cohort study.

PURPOSE: With increasing economic pressures to shorten the length of hospital stay, there has been much recent interest in studying risk factors for the development of postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum calcium and/or PTH levels can predict post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism. METHODS: From January to December 2014, 477 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were included. Corrected calcemia and PTH were systematically performed on postoperative day 1/(POD1). Symptomatic patients were treated on POD1 or POD2 with calcium and vitamin D. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (14.25%) were treated for postoperative hypocalcemia. No patients with calcemia ≥ 2.16 mmol/l and PTH ≥ 1.9 pmol/l were supplemented and therefore were safely discharged on POD1 (specificity = 100%). All patients with calcemia ≤ 1.89 mmol/l were treated regardless the PTH values (n = 10) (specificity = 100%). For calcium value between 1.9 and 2.16 mmol/l with a PTH > 4.7 pmol/l, nobody was treated. With a calcemia between 1.9 and 2.16 mmol/l and a PTH > 1.9 pmol/l, 44 patients did not develop any symptom. ROC curve analysis showed that combination of Cac = 2.16 mmol/l and iPTH = 4.7 pmol/l provided a sensitivity of 97.06% and a specificity of 76.53% (p < 0.0001). We therefore propose an algorithm that would allow to 70% of patients could have been discharged on POD1 without risk of hypocalcemia or overtreatment. CONCLUSION: Combination of corrected calcemia and PTH on POD1 can efficiently predict hypocalcemia and be integrated into clinical practice for personalizing lengths of hospitalization and appropriate treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov PRS. Unique Identifying number or registration ID: NCT04372225.

Recurrence-Free Survival Analysis in Locally Advanced Pheochromocytoma: First Appraisal.

CONTEXT: The behavior of locally advanced pheochromocytoma (LAP) remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We characterized the population with LAP and recurrence-free survival (RFS). METHODS: This retrospective multicentric study was run within the ENDOCAN-COMETE network and French Group of Endocrine Tumors (GTE) from 2003 to 2018, including patients from 11 French referral centers with LAP as defined by capsular invasion, vascular invasion, adipose tissue invasion, and/or positive locoregional lymph nodes at diagnosis without evidence of distant metastasis. The main outcome measure was recurrence, defined as tumor reappearance, including local site and/or distant metastasis. The primary endpoint was RFS analysis; secondary endpoints were characterization, overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors of recurrence. RESULTS: Among 950 patients, 90 (9%) exhibited LAP criteria and 55 met inclusion criteria (median age, 53 years; 61% males; 14% with germline mutation; 84% with catecholamine excess). LAP was defined by 31 (56%) capsular invasions, 27 (49%) fat invasions, 6 (11%) positive lymph nodes, and 22 (40%) vascular invasions. After median follow-up of 54 months (range, 6-180), 12 patients (22%) had recurrences and 3 (5%) died of metastatic disease. Median RFS was 115 months (range, 6-168). Recurrences were local in 2 patients, distant in 2, and both local and distant in 8 patients. Median OS of patients was not reached. Size above 6.5 cm (P = 0.019) and Ki-67 > 2% (P = 0.028) were identified as independent significant prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: LAP represents 9% of pheochromocytoma's population and has a metastatic behavior. This study paves the way for future pathological TNM classification.

FOXE1 polymorphism rs965513 predisposes to thyroid cancer in a European cohort.

Objective: FOXE1 is an intronless gene on chromosome 9 which plays a significant role in thyroid morphogenesis. Mutations in FOXE1 are associated with thyroid phenotypes including congenital hypothyroidism, thyroid dysgenesis and thyroid cancer. This study aims to investigate the frequency and impact of a SNP (rs965513, G>A) at 9q22.23 in a Western European cohort of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC), compared to controls. Design: This is a candidate gene case control study. Methods: 277 patients with histologically confirmed DTC were recruited from tertiary referral centres in Ireland and France. 309 cancer-free controls were recruited from the community. DNA was extracted from buccal swabs or whole blood of control subjects and patients with DTC. Allelic and genotypic frequencies among patients were compared with controls, to assess the risk for disease conferred by homozygous and heterozygous carriers compared to WT genotypes. Genotyping was performed using Taqman-based PCR. Results: 277 patients with confirmed DTC and 309 non-cancer controls were genotyped for the variant (rs965513). The frequency of the minor allele among cases was 0.45 compared to 0.34 among controls. The genotypic odds ratio for heterozygotes was 1.66 (CI 1.16-2.39, P =0.00555), increasing to 2.93 (CI 1.70-5.05, P =0.00007) for rare homozygotes. All subjects were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (±χ2, P =0.09, P =0.07 respectively). Conclusions: This FOXE1 polymorphism is a low penetrance variant associated with DTC susceptibility in this cohort. The minor allele was identified among patients with thyroid cancer significantly more frequently than controls. An allele dosage effect was observed, with rare homozygous genotypes conferring greater risk than heterozygotes.

Pheochromocytoma surgery without systematic preoperative pharmacological preparation: insights from a referral tertiary center experience.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant advances in imaging and genetics, as well as surgical and anesthetic innovations, morbidity in pheochromocytoma surgery remains significant. The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors of global and cardiovascular morbidity following unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from a unicentric cohort. All patients who underwent non-converted laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma between 2000 and 2017 were included. Our patients did not systematically benefit from preoperative pharmacological preparation. It is to be noted that they never received alpha-blockers. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data during follow-ups were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses by logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were included. Fifty-three percent of patients did not receive preoperative pharmacological preparation (PPP) and 33% neither preoperative antihypertensives nor PPP before surgery. There was no postoperative mortality. The global morbidity was 13.4%, while cardiovascular morbidity was 4.5%. The main factors associated with global morbidity were preoperative diuretics, a medical history of stroke, and the need for pressor amines postoperatively. The main factor associated with cardiovascular morbidity was the need for pressor amines postoperatively. Predictive factors of postoperative need for pressor amines for hypotension were the tumor size, preoperative beta-blockers, and/or diuretics. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of patients, our data revealed no mortality and low global and cardiovascular morbidity rates, showing that pheochromocytoma surgery without systematic PPP and even without preoperative antihypertensives is feasible and safe for selected patients. Our data also highlight the need for a good preoperative evaluation of the patient and the tumor, in order to optimize treatments and to help the detection of high-risk patients. This also allows us to better prevent and anticipate their possible complications.

Risk stratification of adrenal masses by [18 F]FDG PET/CT: Changing tactics.

CONTEXT: [18 F]FDG PET/CT improves adrenal tumour characterization. However, there is still no consensus regarding the optimal imaging biomarkers of malignancy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the performance of Tumour standardized uptake value (SUV)max :Liver SUVmax for malignancy-risk and to build and evaluate a prediction model. DESIGN/METHODS: The cohort consisted of consecutive patients with adrenal masses evaluated by [18 F]FDG PET/CT. The gold standard for malignancy was based on histology or a multidisciplinary consensus in nonoperated cases. The performance of the previously reported cut-off for Tumour SUVmax :Liver SUVmax (>1.5) was evaluated in this independent cohort. Additionally, a predictive model of malignancy was built from the training cohort (previous study) and evaluated in the validation cohort (current study). RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were evaluated; 28% of them had a Cushing's syndrome. Fifty-four adrenal masses were classified as benign and 10 as malignant (including 7 adrenocortical carcinomas). Compared to benign masses, malignant lesions were larger in size, had higher unenhanced densities and higher [18 F]FDG uptake. CT-derived anthropometric parameters did not differ between benign and malignant masses. A tumour SUVmax :Liver SUVmax  > 1.5 showed a good diagnostic performance: Se = 90.0%/Sp = 92.6%/PPV = 69.2%/NPV = 98.0% and accuracy = 92.2%. A predictive model based on tumour size and tumour-to-liver uptake SUVmax ratio for malignancy-risk was validated and provides a complementary approach to the ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Tumour SUVmax :Liver SUVmax uptake ratio is a useful biomarker for diagnosis of adrenal masses. Another tactic would be to calculate with the model an individual risk of malignancy and integrate this information into a shared decision-making process.