Correlation between clinical signs and different adrenal gland tumors

Abstract

Objective: To analyse symptoms of patients with adrenal tumors in one university center, and try to find any regularities, related to clinical data. The term ‘adrenal tumor’; describes benign and malignant mass of the adrenal gland. Materials and methods: This study includes 80 patients retrospectively with adrenal tumors at LUHS Kaunas Clinics Radiology Department. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. AIM: To elucidate the correlations between clinical signs and different adrenal tumors. Results: In this study involved 40 male (50%), 40 female (50%) patients with various types of adrenal tumors (aldosteronoma – 3,8%, pheochromocytoma – 21,3%, adenoma – 42,5%, others – 32,5%). The mean age of patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma was statistically significantly lower compared to other types of adrenal tumors (52,5 years, p=0,01). Regardless of the type of adrenal tumor, 74 patients (92,5%) reported complaints and the most common were high BP (n=51, 63,8%), general weakness, fatigue (n=22, 27,5%). Patients diagnosed with aldosteroma (n=3) complained of increased arterial BP and 1 patient - heart rhythm disorder. Of those who diagnosed with pheochromocytoma (n=17) the most common symptoms were high BP (n=10, 58,8%), general weakness / fatigue / insomnia (n=9, 52,9%), headache / dizziness (n=7, 41,2%), abdominal pain (n=5, 29,4%). Patients diagnosed with adenoma (n=34), indicated high BP (n=23, 67,6%), general weakness / fatigue / insomnia (n=8, 23,5%), headache/ dizziness (n=7, 20,5%), abdominal pain (n=7, 20,5%), heart rhythm disorders (n=7, 20,5%). Other adrenal tumors (n=26) in patients manifested increased arterial BP (n=15, 57,7%), abdominal pain (n=6,23,1%), heart rhythm disorders (n=6, 23,1%), headache / dizziness (n=5, 19,2%), general weakness (n=5,19,2%). No significant difference was found between tumor type and symptoms p>0,05). It was found that other types of adrenal tumors occurred significantly more often in women than in men (p=0,02). Conclusions: Patients with an adrenal gland tumor may experience different clinical signs. No significant difference was found between tumor type and symptoms. However, it was found that other types of adrenal tumors occurred significantly more often in women than in men.