Is surgery necessary for incidentally discovered adrenal masses in children?

BACKGROUND: There are no guidelines that exist to direct the management of incidental adrenal masses (IAM) in children. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a subset of IAMs that could be safely observed.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all adrenal masses that were either resected or biopsied between 1990 and 2002 (n = 91) at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. IAM was defined as a solitary adrenal mass discovered by either physical examination (n = 6; 23.1%) or diagnostic imaging for other indications (n = 20; 76.9%), without metastases or biochemical activity.

RESULTS: Twenty-six (28.6%) IAMs were detected (mean age, 4.6 years [range, antenatal to 17 years]; 11 boys, 15 girls). Pathologic diagnoses included neuroblastoma (n = 7), ganglioneuroma (n = 6), adrenocortical adenoma (n = 4), adrenal cyst/pseudocyst (n = 3), adrenal hemorrhage (n = 3), ganglioneuroblastoma (n = 1), nodular cortical hyperplasia (n = 1), and teratoma (n = 1). Eight masses were malignant (30.8%). Two of the 5 masses discovered on antenatal ultrasound scan were neuroblastoma. In comparing the benign with malignant lesions, there was no significant difference in mean size (4.8 cm v 4.3 cm; P =.57), radiologic characteristics, or mode of presentation. Benign lesions occurred more frequently in older children (mean age, 6.5 years v 1.3 years; P =.03).

CONCLUSIONS: Clear guidelines cannot be established to predict benign IAM in children. Given the high proportion of malignant lesions, we recommend that all pediatric IAMs should be resected.