Adrenal Injuries and Incidentalomas in Trauma Patients at an Urban Trauma Centre

Woodruff
2012 Journal of Current Surgery  
Trauma patients are frequently evaluated by abdominal computed tomography. The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas is 4% of the general population, increasing with age. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and follow-up of adrenal lesions in an adult trauma centre. there were 45,576 patients admitted to the Alfred Hospital Trauma Unit, 142 (0.31%) patients had adrenal injuries and 26 (0.06%) patients had adrenal incidentalomas. Of the patients with adrenal injuries, the
more » ... male ratio was 3:1. Blunt trauma was responsible in 99% of patients. Right-sided injuries were commoner (73%). Left-sided lesions were present in 19%, and bilateral injuries in 5% (P < 0.0001). Adrenal injury was identified as haemorrhage or haematoma in 95%. In the adrenal injury group, there was the 13% mortality. Follow-up imaging was not performed in 50% of patients; while another 30% only had imaging within 2 weeks, while still hospitalised. Of the 26 patients with incidentalomas, the male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. All were blunt trauma patients, 69% of identified masses were left-sided lesions, 23% right-sided, and 7.7% were bilateral. Repeat imaging was obtained in 58% of patients, while the remainder was lost to follow-up. Biochemical investigations were performed in 54%. One patient had phaeochromocytoma, and 13 patients had benign incidentalomas. Three patients underwent adrenalectomy: one at the time of trauma laparotomy (benign cortical adenoma); one 5 months post-trauma (phaeochromocytoma); and the final patient 3 months post-trauma (benign vascular epithelial cyst). Conclusions: With increased use of abdominal CT in the evaluation of trauma patients, adrenal lesions are increasingly likely to be found. Follow-up of these lesions in this series has been variable. The development of a protocol for adrenal lesions in trauma patients may improve follow-up care.
doi:10.4021/jcs108w fatcat:y47ro7ec7zhzxjfw6czdlifga4