Magnetic resonance imaging of bladder pheochromocytomas: a review.

Bladder pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare tumors that account for 0.06% of all bladder tumors and makeup 1% of all PCCs. Most PCCs are functional, and they secrete catecholamines that lead to clinical symptoms such as paroxysmal hypertension, headaches, palpitations, and sweating. However, some are nonfunctional and asymptomatic and are hence difficult to diagnose. Cystoscopy and biopsy should not be performed when bladder PCCs are suspected. They may provoke a hypertensive crisis if preventative antiadrenergic blockers are not administered prior to the procedure. The diagnostic workup begins with obtaining blood or urine catecholamine and catecholamine metabolite values to make a presumptive diagnosis of bladder PCC. Computed tomography (C.T.) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are then used to localize and stage the tumor for surgical resection. MRI, due to its superior soft tissue resolution and the ability to use multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) to differentiate between layers of the bladder wall and from other bladder masses, is the optimal imaging modality to detect extra-adrenal bladder PCCs and determine locoregional staging. Once antiadrenergic medications are given, the tumor is resected, and the diagnosis is confirmed histologically. However, the differential diagnosis of bladder PCC often gets overlooked, leading to surgical resection in the absence of antiadrenergic medications, increasing the chances of a fatal hypertensive crisis. This makes MRI an essential diagnostic tool for staging bladder PCCs before surgery. This review discusses the indications for MRI in bladder PCCs and describes findings from these tumors on various MRI sequences and when to use them. We also discuss how MRI can differentiate bladder PCCs from other bladder neoplasms.

Multimodality imaging of adrenal gland pathologies: A comprehensive pictorial review.

The assessment of acute abdominal and pelvic emergencies typically involves a multimodal approach consisting of plain radiographs, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and rarely magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although MRI is not traditionally employed in acute care settings, there are several instances in which MRI provides superior functional and prognostic information. In this manuscript, we highlight multimodal findings of adrenal gland emergencies: Hemorrhage, infarction, and infection. The purpose of our study is to highlight significant findings in various modalities, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET/CT. Due to the scarcity of published data and limited clinical use, primary ultrasound findings are limited in our multimodal review. In conclusion, we find that synergistic use of CT, MRI, and functional imaging provides an effective tool for evaluation and management of adrenal pathology.