What does 20mm of a nodular area along the left adrenal gland mean. Possible cancer. Should it be removed? What size is 20 mmwhat does -5 Hounsfield units mean. Also what does diminished signal intensity on the out-of-phase images consistent with a lipid-rich adenoma mean?
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How much use of iodized salt, or foods supplemented with iodine do you eat?
Reply to Byron K. Daniels's Post: You did answer any of my questions.
Reply to Byron K. Daniels's Post: You did not answer any of my questions
Yes, Possibly Cancer. Nodular Area Are Often Associated With The Conditions e.g. Adenocarcinoma of the lung and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Nodule come in various sizes. Some are seen in number e.g. 10mm, 6mm, and 1mm via CT scan.
In nodules of the internal organs (cancer of the internal organs and nodules), as a growth, the lesions has local and metastatic manifestations. These conditions can be illustrated with examples from several of the major tumor types such as cancer of the lung, colon, and brain with the primary characterstic, increased pressure as the tumor grows until loss of function of the affected organ or organs and subsequent death.
In primary aldosteronism (signifies stimulus for the excessive production resides within the adrenal gland; in secondary aldosteronism the stimulus is of extr-adrenal orgin), is a syndrome associated with hypersecretion of the major adrenal mineralocorticoid adosterone. Rarely reported in association with adrenal carcinoma, it is twice as common in women as in men, presenting the ages thirty and fifty.
During recent years, a number of cases have been reported with clinical and biochemical characteristics previously considered primary aldosteronism, but a solitary adenoma was not found at surgery. Instead, these patients have bilaterial cortical nodular hyperplasia. (see also Idopathic hyperadosteronism, or nodular hyperplasia.
These functional tumors (noudles of the adrenal) are almost always benign in nature, but should be surgically removed in order to prevent the adverse effects of the excess hormone. If a non-functioning adrenal tumor is large in size, or is seen to get bigger on repeat radiologic tests, then surgical resection is usually recommended since there would be concern about harboring malignancy.
The Hounsfield scale is a quantitative scale for describing radiodensity. The radiodensity of distilled water at standard pressure and temperature (STP) is defined as zero Hounsfield units (HU); The radiodensity of air at STP is defined as -1000 HU.
The HU of other substances are:
Air-1000Fat-120Water0Muscle+40Bone+1000 -Wikipedia
Density of lesions as measured by hounsfield units. A density of 3.6 HU, CONSISTENT WITH A BENIGN LIPID-RICH ADENOMA, for example.
Lipid-rich adenomas show a decrease in relative signal intensity. Whereas nonadenomas show no significant change (on MR imaging).
Hope this answer your questions!
REFERENCE(S)
1. Kyung Soo Lee, M.D., et al, T1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Imaging and Histopathologic (Online: RadioGraphics, 2004) http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/24/6/1617
2. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center (MGHCC), Unique Treatments (Online: MGHCC, 2006) http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/care/adult/endocrine/treatments.asp#adrenal
3. Wikipedia, Hounsfield Units (Online: Wikipedia, 2006) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hounsfield_units
4. Georg Mansmann, et al, The Clinically Inapparent Adrenal Mass: Update in Diagnosis and Management (Online: RadioGraphic, 2004) http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/25/2/309