Different lipid contents between aldosterone-producing and nonhyperfunctioning adrenocortical adenomas: in vivo measurement using chemical-shift magnetic resonance imaging.

Lipid contents in the 11 aldosterone-producing and 24 nonhyperfunctioning adrenocortical adenomas and 8 pheochromocytomas were assessed in vivo by using chemical-shift fast low-angle shot magnetic resonance imaging. T2 relaxation times were measured by using a spin echo sequence. The relative lipid contents of pheochromocytomas were significantly less than adrenocortical adenomas. The relative lipid contents of aldosterone-producing adenomas were significantly less than nonhyperfunctioning adenomas. The longer T2 relaxation times of aldosterone-producing adenomas may also represent less lipid contents compared with nonhyperfunctioning adenomas. These results strongly support the suggestion that there is a very close relationship between accumulated lipid droplets and functional aspects in the adrenocortical cells. Chemical-shift magnetic resonance imaging may be a useful method for the indirect analysis of the function of adrenocortical adenomas in vivo.