The increased use of CT scans and MRI has made the discovery of nodules in the adrenal glands, also called suprarenal glands, more frequent. These findings are part of the suprarenal tumor group, which includes benign lesions, hormone-producing lesions, or, more rarely, malignant ones. When a lesion is identified on an exam requested for another reason, it is called an adrenal incidentaloma.
Most of these nodules correspond to benign lesions, mainly adenomas, and do not show significant hormone production. Nevertheless, the finding must be properly evaluated to differentiate lesions that can be considered benign from those requiring further investigation, monitoring, or treatment.
According to the guidelines of the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors, the initial evaluation should consider two main aspects: the possibility of hormone production and the characteristics of the lesion. This differentiation is essential to determine the appropriate management for each patient.
