Clinical value of CT and MRI in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of adrenal ganglioneuroma

WANG Dong; MENG Limin; BI Yongmin; ZHANG Wanshi

Abstract：Objective To investigate the value of CT and MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rare adrenal ganglioneuroma. Methods The CT and MRI features of eight cases of adrenal ganglioneuroma verified surgically and pathologically were investigated retrospectively. All these cases underwent CT scan and five of them underwent MRI. Results All the patients had a solitary lesion that was in the right adrenal gland in five cases and in the left one in three cases. The diameter of the lesions ranged from 2.8 to 7.6 cm, with an average of 6.3 cm. Pre-contrast CT identified the lesions as isointense or hypointense. Calcification was observed inside three tumors.On MRI images, the tumors displayed isointense or hypointense signals on T1WI and hyperintense signals on T2WI, and whirl signs were seen inside three tumors. On contrast images, the tumors were enhanced slightly in the early phase and gradually more significantly in the delayed phase. The CT and MRI features of one case of adrenal ganglioneuroma were similar to those of adrenal pseudocysts. The tumor showed growth "through cracks" or surrounding the blood vessels without invading them. Conclusion On CT and MRI images, the adrenal ganglioneuroma shows a large soft mass with growth "through cracks",and displays gradual enhancement on post-contrast images, thus contributing to the differentiation from other adrenal diseases.