1. The computed tomography-guided adrenal biopsy. An alternative to surgery in adrenal mass diagnosis.
- Author
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Berkman WA, Bernardino ME, Sewell CW, Price RB, and Sones PJ Jr
- Subjects
- Adenoma pathology, Adenoma secondary, Adrenal Gland Neoplasms pathology, Adrenal Gland Neoplasms secondary, Adrenal Glands pathology, Adult, Aged, Biopsy methods, Diagnosis, Differential, Diagnostic Errors, Female, Humans, Hyperplasia, Male, Melanoma pathology, Melanoma secondary, Middle Aged, Adenoma diagnostic imaging, Adrenal Gland Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, Adrenal Glands diagnostic imaging, Melanoma diagnostic imaging, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Abstract
A series of 16 patients with adrenal masses were biopsied percutaneously under computed tomography (CT) guidance with 18- to 22-gauge modified Chiba needles. Adrenal adenomas, cysts, metastases, melanoma, and adrenal hemorrhage were identified. Of nine oncologic patients, four had adrenal metastases, while five had other nonmalignant adrenal masses. Thus, an adrenal mass in an oncologic patient is not always metastases. No complications occurred. The diagnostic evaluation of an adrenal mass in selected cases should include CT-guided percutaneous aspiration as a safe and reliable alternative to open surgical biopsy. CT-guided biopsy can be performed as an outpatient procedure, avoiding the cost of hospitalization and the morbidity of surgery.
- Published
- 1984
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