Evaluating the Adrenal Glands: A Comprehensive Examination of Sonography, CT, and MRI

George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T.(R)(ARRT)®*

^*Medical Imaging Consultant, Germantown, NY

Address correspondence to: George Tsoukatos, BPS, R.T.(R)(ARRT)^®*, Radiology Support Services, PO Box 215, Germantown, NY 12526. E-mail: radiologytechnique@gmail.com.

Disclosure Statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

The adrenal glands can be affected by a variety of lesions, and adrenal gland diseases pose significant diagnostic challenges due to the wide range of possible neoplastic and non-neoplastic pathologies. Adrenal gland lesions can either be primary, of adrenal origin, or secondary to other pathologies and can also provide clinical clues to the histologic diagnosis and the types of other diagnostic tests that may be required. Over the years, various imaging techniques have been developed that have increased diagnostic accuracy and helped to better characterize adrenal lesions noninvasively. To that end, radiologic technologists need to be well versed in the best imaging protocols and procedures for imaging patients with adrenal gland abnormalities and how to acquire the highest quality images for proper clinical interpretation. This continuing education course will review the vital roles of sonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in imaging and evaluating the adrenal glands. It will also review adrenal gland anatomy, benign and malignant lesion classifications and type, other diagnostic tests that might be needed, and clinical evaluation. A review of the basic functionality, procedures, and protocols of sonography, CT, and MRI will be given as well as illustrative examples of multiple types of adrenal gland lesions and how they may appear on screen for each modality.