Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 26 P87

Department of Endocrinology, Metaxa Hospital, Pireaus, Greece.


The incidental discovery of adrenal tumors in the course of computer tomography scanning for various reasons has led to the more detailed study of this type of tumors.

The aim was to study the anatomical distribution of primary adrenal tumors at diagnosis.

The archives of all patients with primary adrenal tumors having been hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Metaxa Hospital, Pireaus, Greece from 01.01.2000 up to 30.06.2010 were studied. Patients with secreting and non secreting adrenal adenomas, pheochromocytomas, carcinomas of the adrenal cortex and malignant pheochromocytomas were included.

During the above-mentioned period 223 patients with primary adrenal tumors were hospitalized. Amongst this group of patients 170 (76%) were female and 53 male (24%). In their majority adrenal tumors presented in the left adrenal. In 58% of the male patients (31/53) the tumors were found in the left adrenal, in 30% (16/53) in the right, while in 12% (6/53) of male patients bilateral adrenal tumors were observed. In 80/170 (47%) of female patients tumors were found in the left adrenal, in 58/170 (34%) in the right adrenal and in 32/170 (19%) bilateral adrenal tumors were observed.

The aetiology of adrenal oncogenesis has not been elucidated. In the cohort of patients studied a tendency for the tumors to arise within the left adrenal was observed. However, although the left from the right adrenal differ as far as the blood supply and outflow is concerned, further studies are needed to fully elucidate the anatomical distribution of primary adrenal tumors.

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