PET/CT for the Characterization of Adrenal Masses in Patients with Cancer: Qualitative Versus Quantitative Accuracy in 150 Consecutive Patients

Abstract

PET/CT is a highly accurate method for differentiating benign from malignant adrenal masses particularly when using qualitative, rather than quantitative, PET data. The routine use of quantitative mean or maximal SUV or SUR data may be unnecessary. Occasional benign lesions do show mild to moderate increased FDG uptake compared with that of the liver and may mimic some malignant lesions. Without evidence that these lesions are benign by unenhanced CT densitometry or adrenal mass stability or growth from previous CT scans, we recommend that these lesions be characterized using contrast-enhanced washout tests and that if those tests are inconclusive, using percutaneous biopsy if early lesion characterization is mandatory.