Are CT and MRI able to distinguish between hyperfunctional and nonhyperfunctional adrenal adenomas?
CT and MRI are not generally able to distinguish between hyperfunctional and nonhyperfunctional adrenal adenomas. However, visualization of atrophy of the remainder of the adrenal gland tissue is suggestive of a hyperfunctional adrenal adenoma that is secreting increased levels of cortisol, because pituitary ACTH hormone secretion by the pituitary gland is suppressed in this scenario. Also, hyperfunctional adrenal adenomas tend to be smaller in size than nonhyperfunctional adrenal adenomas, because symptomatic patients tend to undergo abdominal imaging evaluation sooner than asymptomatic patients do.
