Computed tomography in the diagnosis of adrenal pathology.

Computed tomographic diagnosis of adrenal pathology, based on experience with 13 cases, is presented. These include five pheochromocytomas, two functioning cortical adenomas and one case each of nonfunctioning adenoma, adrenal cyst with adenoma, carcinoma, metastasis, and bilateral hyperplasia. One additional case of a small adrenal tumor of undetermined nature was probably a small nonfunctioning adenoma. The smallest tumor detected was 25 mm in diam and the largest was 150 mm. Other imaging modalities employed were mainly conventional urography with tomography and ultrasonography. By these means only the larger adrenal tumors were detected. The relative merits and drawbacks of other imaging procedures are discussed and compared to computed tomography. Computed tomography should be the initial imaging procedure of choice when adrenal pathology is suspected.