DIFFERENTIATION OF ADRENAL MASSES WITH MR-IMAGING - COMPARISON OF TECHNIQUES

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of various magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences for the differentiation of adrenal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-three adrenal masses in 46 patients (adenomas, meta stases, myelolipomas, hemorrhages, and pheochromocytomas) were evaluat ed by means of T1-, T2-, and T2-weighted sequences, calculated T2 val ues, chemical shift imaging techniques, and dynamic contrast material- enhanced imaging. The Student t test and receiver operating characteri stic analysis Were used to evaluate the differences in the groups of m asses. RESULTS: Analysis of the chemical shift-induced signal intensit y of the adrenal masses and the T2-weighted sequence enabled differen tiation of adenomas, metastases, and pheochromocytomas. Adenomas and p heochromocytomas were also differentiated by means of a heavily T2-wei ghted sequence. Signal intensity values for all masses overlapped. CON CLUSION: Although a chemical shift imaging technique and a T2-weighte d sequence helped correctly differentiate among the groups of adrenal masses, the degree of Overlap suggests that it is still difficult to e valuate disease m individual patients.