FINE-NEEDLE CYTOLOGY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ADRENAL SPACE-OCCUPYING LESIONS

Fine needle biopsy under computed tomography guidance is a valuable pr ocedure for the diagnosis of adrenal space-occupying lesions. Among 35 successfully diagnosed patients, six had no history of neoplastic dis ease, 19 were under treatment for cancer, and ten were simultaneously found to have an adrenal gland mass visible on imaging studies and a t umor in another site (lung, liver, or lymph nodes). Diagnoses establis hed by cytologic examination of the fine-needle specimen were malignan t corticosuprarenoma in four patients, adrenal metastases in 20, carci noma in two, non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma in three, adenoma or hyp erplasia in five, and focal inflammation in one. There were no adverse experiences related to the biopsy procedure. Sensitivity and specific ity were 97% and 100%, respectively.