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Natural course of small adrenal lesions in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: an endoscopic ultrasound imaging study

¹ Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Philipp's University, D-35033 Marburg, Germany (EU)² , Surgery³ Radiology, Philipp's University, 35033 Marburg, Germany (EU)⁴ Institute for Clinical Research and Development, 55116 Mainz, Germany (EU)⁵ I M Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, 11999 Moscow, Russia

(Correspondence should be addressed to P H Kann; Email: kannp{at}med.uni-marburg.de)

Objective: Adrenal lesion is one of the features of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). This study aimed to assess prevalence, natural course and clinical relevance of small adrenal lesions without clinical symptoms, endocrine activity, or mechanical problems and thus without clear indication for surgical therapy by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

Design and methods: Forty-nine patients with familial MEN1 were studied. Twenty-seven of these with adrenal lesions were detected by EUS and at least two performed EUS examinations were included into a subgroup where changes in adrenal morphology were studied by measuring changes in the largest diameter of the dominant adrenal tumour.

Results: EUS detected adrenal lesions in 36 (73%) patients: 6 (12%) plump adrenals, 17 (35%) nodular hyperplasia, 12 (24%) adenomas and 1 (2%) cyst. Bilateral adrenal lesions were detected in 17 patients and unilateral in 19 patients. A change in the largest tumour diameter was found to be for nodular hyperplasia –0.02±1.41% per month (range –2.56 to 4.58%) and for adenomas –0.61±1.95% per month (range –6.25 to 1.15%). One patient had an adrenal cyst with significant growth. There was no evidence of carcinoma or metastatic disease during the study.

Conclusions: The prevalence of adrenal lesions in MEN1 is higher than that reported earlier. Except one cystic lesion, no significant change in the tumour size was observed over a mean observation period of more than 2 years. In a typical situation, small adrenal lesions in MEN1 seem to be constant in their morphology.