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| |  Significant Incidence of Adrenal Masses in Patients With Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours: Presented at ENETS By Karen Dente BERLIN -- March 13, 2010 -- Incidental adrenal lesions are commonly seen in patients who have gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs), according to a study presented here at the 7th Annual European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) Conference. George Kanakis, MD, National University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, and colleagues performed a retrospective study in 115 patients with GEP-NETs who presented at their hospital between 2005 and 2009. To determine the incidence and character of adrenal masses as revealed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging abdominal studies, the researchers analysed how they related to biochemical and histopathological parameters. Most inadvertently discovered adrenal tumours found in the general population after widespread screening through modern imaging modalities are nonfunctioning benign adenomas. In the presence of a known malignancy, however, a >30% chance exists that these lesions are metastases. Because patients with GEP-NETs have routine abdominal imaging for disease staging and the tumours are mainly well differentiated and slow growing, studying the incidence and significance of the lesions using Tumour, Node, Metastasis (TNM) classification is important, according to the researchers. Adrenal lesions were found in 10.11% of patients, with most located in the left adrenal gland and having a mean lesion diameter of 25.17 mm. Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome was seen in 22.2% of the cases on endocrine evaluation. The incidence of adrenal lesions in GEP-NET patients was higher than observed in the general population (10.11% vs 1.9%) but lower than found in other malignancies (10.11% vs 27%). The lesions most likely represent benign adrenal adenomas. “Further studies are needed with larger patient numbers and control groups to more accurately determine the frequency, behaviour, and significance [effect on TNM classification] of adrenal masses in patients with GEP tumours,” Dr. Kanakis concluded. [Presentation title: Incidence and Clinical Significance of Adrenal Masses in Patients With Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Abstract C43]
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