endocrine and metabolic disorders
Nonfunctional Adrenal Masses
Diagnosis of Nonfunctional Adrenal Masses
Adrenal hormone measurements Fine-needle biopsy Nonfunctional adrenal masses are usually found incidentally during tests such as CT or MRI conducted for other reasons. Nonfunctionality is established clinically and confirmed by adrenal hormonal measurements. suppression testing and serum cortisol (to rule out Cushing Syndrome ), 24-hour urinary or plasma fractionated metanephrines (to rule out If metastatic or infectious disease is possible, fine-needle biopsy can be diagnostic but is contraindicated if there is suspicion of adrenal carcinoma (to avoid spread of tumor) or pheochromocytoma (to avoid precipitating acute hypertension). 