Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-6-30
pubmed:abstractText
We currently recommend excision of adrenal incidentalomas > or = 4 cm in size and all hormonally active tumors. The optimal management and follow-up of smaller nonfunctioning tumors are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcome of a well defined population of patients with incidentalomas followed without operative intervention. The study group comprised 231 patients, identified from the records of abdominal or thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans performed between 1985 and 1989. The primary outcome variable analyzed was survival. Follow-up was obtained by office records, telephone contact, or letter. There were 101 male and 130 female patients with a mean age at diagnosis of 64 years (range 5-86 years). Most adrenal tumors were unilateral (right 113; left 98); 20 were bilateral. Mean tumor size was 2 cm (range 1-6 cm). In nine (4%) patients the tumor was > or = 4 cm. Follow-up [mean 7 years; range 1 month (patient died) to 11.7 years] was complete in 224 (97%) patients. Ninety-one (39%) patients had one or more additional CT scans performed during the follow-up period, with only four patients demonstrating a > 1 cm increase in the size of the adrenal mass. Surgical excision of these four lesions identified benign pathology. Eighty-one (35%) patients died of conditions unrelated to adrenal pathology. No patient developed subsequent adrenal hyperfunction or adrenal malignancy. Within the context of our guidelines, conservative management of adrenal incidentalomas considered benign or nonfunctioning at diagnosis is appropriate. Additional information provided by repeat CT scanning appears to confer limited benefit. This study does not support laparoscopic removal of small, nonfunctional adrenal tumors, as has been suggested.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0364-2313
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
22
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
599-603; discussion 603-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Can adrenal incidentalomas be safely observed?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article