Computer tomography imaging findings of adrenal cavernous hemangiomas: a report of 10 cases

Abstract

Background

Cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) of the adrenal gland are extremely rare. To date, only a few studies of adrenal CH imaging have been reported.

Purpose

To analyze the computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of adrenal CHs.

Material and Methods

Ten cases of adrenal CHs confirmed by a histopathological examination were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients had undergone unenhanced and enhanced CT examinations, and eight had also undergone multiphase CT enhancement examinations. CT characteristics, including shape, size, margin, attenuation, and enhancement patterns, were analyzed.

Results

The study included six women and four men with a mean age of 49.2 years (age range, 25–62 years) and no signs of abnormal endocrine activity. The unenhanced CTs showed well-defined, heterogeneous (n = 8) or homogeneous (n = 2) density masses with scattered (n = 8) or spread calcifications (n = 2) in six tumors. In the contrast-enhanced CTs, seven tumors appeared to be marked with heterogeneous enhancement, whereas three cases exhibited no obvious enhancement. The evaluation of the pattern of dynamic enhancement in eight patients revealed that the tumors showed early peripheral enhancement (n = 4), early central enhancement (n = 1), and mixed enhancement (n = 1) with progressive partial filling-in, and no obvious enhancement in any phases (n = 2).

Conclusion

Adrenal CHs should be included in the differential diagnosis when an adrenal neoplasm is incidentally found and appears as a well-defined, heterogeneous mass with calcifications and various enhancement patterns, including heterogeneous enhancement with characteristic progressive partial filling-in, as well as lack of enhancement in any phase.

Keywords

Cavernous hemangioma adrenal gland computed tomography (CT)

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