Adrenal incidentalomas.

[adrenal incidentaloma]

The term adrenal incidentaloma (AI ) is usually defined as an adrenal mass unexpectedly detected through an imaging procedure performed for reasons a priori unrelated to adrenal dysfunction or suspected dysfunction . The preferred approach to their management in terms of diagnosis , follow-up , and treatment remain controversial despite a state -of-the-science conference sponsored by the U .S . National Institutes of Health . Although most experts ' recommendations tend to be relatively minor variations of the conference 's approach , dissenting voices have been heard . Despite their frequent appearance , the challenge remains to recognize and treat the small percentage of AI that do pose a significant risk , either because of their hormonal activity or because of their malignant histology , while leaving the rest alone . Although the differential diagnosis of an incidentally discovered mass is quite extensive , most AIs are non-secreting cortical adenomas . The noninvasive differentiation of benign and malignant lesions depends upon imaging characteristics , and sometimes radiologic diagnosis can be definitive , but often it is not , Among function lesions , autonomous cortisol production seems to be the most common and may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and clinical features of the "metabolic syndrome ." Follow-up of cases in which a specific diagnosis is not made initially involves assessment for growth and development of hormonal function , but even here , controversy about the extent of evaluation persists .

Diseases
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Diseases presenting "malignant histology" symptom

adrenal incidentaloma

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