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Nonfunctional adrenal masses are space-occupying lesions of the adrenal glands that have no hormonal activity. Symptoms, signs, and treatment depend on the nature and size of the mass.
The most common nonfunctioning adrenal mass in adults is an adenoma (50%), followed by carcinomas and metastatic tumors. Cysts and lipomas make up most of the remainder. However, the precise proportions depend on the clinical presentation. Masses discovered on incidental screening are usually adenomas. Less commonly, in neonates, spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage may cause large adrenal masses, simulating neuroblastoma or Wilms tumor. In adults, bilateral massive adrenal hemorrhage may result from thromboembolic disease or coagulopathy. Benign cysts are observed in elderly patients and may be due to cystic degeneration, vascular accidents, lymphomas, bacterial infections, fungal infections (eg, histoplasmosis), or parasitic infestations (eg, due to Echinococcus). Hematogenous spread of TB organisms may cause adrenal masses. A nonfunctional adrenal carcinoma causes a diffuse and infiltrating retroperitoneal process. Hemorrhage can occur, causing adrenal hematomas.
Symptoms and Signs
Most patients are asymptomatic. With any adrenal mass, adrenal insufficiency is rare unless both glands are involved.
The major signs of bilateral massive adrenal hemorrhage are abdominal pain, falling Hct, signs of acute adrenal failure, and suprarenal masses on CT or MRI. TB of the adrenals may cause calcification and Addison disease. Nonfunctional adrenal carcinoma usually manifests as metastatic disease.
Diagnosis
Nonfunctional adrenal masses are usually found incidentally during tests such as CT or MRI conducted for other reasons. Nonfunctionality is established clinically and confirmed by adrenal hormonal measurements (see Adrenal Disorders: Cushing Syndrome). (See also the NIH Consensus Statement on Management of the Clinically Inapparent Adrenal Mass.) If metastatic disease is possible, fine-needle biopsy can be diagnostic but is contraindicated if adrenal carcinoma or pheochromocytoma is strongly suspected.
Treatment
Although new imaging modalities (eg, in-phase and out-of-phase MRI) may be diagnostic, if the tumor is solid, of adrenal origin, and > 4 cm, it should usually be excised, because biopsy cannot always distinguish benign from malignant tumors.
Tumors 2 to 4 cm in diameter are a particularly difficult clinical problem. If scanning does not suggest cancer and hormonal function does not seem altered (eg, normal electrolytes and catecholamines, no evidence of Cushing syndrome), it is reasonable to reevaluate periodically with imaging studies, usually for up to 4 yr. If no progression is seen by then, further follow-up is unnecessary. However, many of these tumors secrete cortisol in quantities too small to cause symptoms, and whether they would eventually cause symptoms and morbidity if untreated is unclear. Most clinicians merely observe patients with these tumors.
Adrenal adenomas < 2 cm require no special treatment but should be observed for growth or development of secretory function (such as by looking for clinical signs and periodically measuring electrolytes).
Nonfunctional adrenal carcinoma that has metastasized is not amenable to surgery, though mitotane plus corticosteroids may help control the disease.
Last full review/revision August 2012 by Ashley B. Grossman, MD, FRCP, FMedSci
Content last modified November 2012
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