Assessment of clinical and radiologic differences between small and large adrenal pheochromocytomas

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate differences in clinical and radiologic features of small and large pheochromocytomas.

Materials and methods: This study included 39 patients with adrenal pheochromocytomas. Several clinical and radiologic features were statistically analyzed and compared between small and large pheochromocytomas.

Results: No significant differences were found in clinical features between them. Small pheochromocytomas had more relatively homogeneous attenuation although large pheochromocytomas had more cystic or necrotic changes.

Conclusions: Pheochromocytomas tend to have different CT imaging features mimicking other tumors according to the size of the tumors. However, clinical features, CT imaging characteristics, and radioisotope activity are not different between small and large pheochromocytomas.

Keywords: Adrenal gland; Multidetector computed tomography; Pheochromocytoma.