PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY FOR ADRENAL-TUMORS USING ULTRASONICALLY GUIDED PUNCTURE

Percutaneous biopsy for adrenal tumors was performed on 12 patients using ultrasonically guided puncture. Of the 12 tumors, 11 were detected incidentally by ultrasonography or computed tomography. In 11 cases, cytological or pathological diagnosis was obtained without any complication. Among these, surgical operation was carried out in 4 cases, in which biopsy findings were confirmed by the examination of the surgical specimens. The other 7 cases were being followed up without surgery. The rate of correct discrimination between benign and malignant adrenal tumors by biopsy was 91% (10/11 cases) in this series. It is accordingly considered that adrenal biopsy is the first choice to confirm the diagnosis of nonfunctioning adrenal tumors because of its efficacy and ease of use.