Bilateral Adrenal Incidentalomas (Pages 24-28)

F.Z. Taleb el Houda, N.E. Haraj, S. El Aziz and A. Chadli

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Neuroscience and Mental Health Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12970/2310-9971.2020.08.04

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Abstract: Introduction: Bilateral adrenal incidentaloma presents a unique diagnostic challenge. Besides the risk of hormonal hypersecretion, bilateral adrenal lesion carries an additional risk of being metastatic from another primary carcinoma or part of a genetic syndrome. The discovery of a bilateral adrenal incidentaloma requires special attention and a broad diagnostic approach. This study is focused on the clinical, biological, etiological, therapeutic and progressive characteristics of bilateral adrenal incidentalomas.
Patients and Methods: Descriptive retrospective study of 9 patients with bilateral adrenal incidentaloma from 2015 to 2020.
Results: The mean age was 45±20 years with a predominance of male 77% (n=7). Adrenal masses were discovered during abdominal computed tomography in 77% of cases, abdominal ultrasound in 22% of cases. The reason for performing the radiological assessment was abdominal pain in 55% of patients (n=5), exploration of the hypertension in 33% (n=3), other causes were found in 11% of cases. Hormonal and biological exploration found a bilateral pheochromocytoma in 77%. The treatment was bilateral adrenalectomy in 44%, unilateral in 33%. Other treatments were offered for the rest of patient.
Conclusion: The fortuitous radiological discovery of a bilateral adrenal incidentaloma should lead to additional explorations to clarify its nature, which will guide the treatment.

Keywords: Bilateral, adrenal, incidentaloma, pheochromocytoma, metastases.
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