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Diagnosis and Clinical Pictures

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Surgery of the Adrenal Gland

Abstract

The discovery of incidental adrenal masses during imaging procedures has become progressively more frequent. In such situations a correct clinical and biochemical approach have to be performed in order to obtain information on the biological and functional nature of the adrenal mass. Clinicians are asked to establish whether the adrenal mass is an adenoma, a pheochromocytoma, an adrenal carcinoma or a metastasis, and to perform a correct laboratory evaluation to search for even mild derangements in adrenal secretion. Recognition of mild signs and symptoms related to slight adrenal hypersecretion may permit a precocious identification of diseases associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Indeed cardiovascular events represent the most frequent complications due to catecholamine release by a pheochromocytoma, or to chronic hypercortisolism as in Cushing’s syndrome. Finally, the early recognition of an adrenal carcinoma is of utmost importance to improve the outcome and the prognosis of this biologically aggressive tumor.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedicine, Endocrinology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy

    Gabriele Parenti

  2. Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Endocrinology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Massimo Mannelli

Authors
  1. Gabriele Parenti
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  2. Massimo Mannelli
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Gabriele Parenti or Massimo Mannelli .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Chirurgia Generale, d'Urgenza e Mini-inv, Ospedale Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy

    Andrea Valeri

  2. , Chirurgia Generale, d'Urgenza e Mini-inv, Ospedale Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy

    Carlo Bergamini

  3. , Istituto di Semeiotica Chirurgica, Policlinico Gemelli, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Rocco Bellantone

  4. , Istituto di Semeiotica Chirurgica, Policlinico Gemelli, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Celestino Pio Lombardi

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Parenti, G., Mannelli, M. (2013). Diagnosis and Clinical Pictures. In: Valeri, A., Bergamini, C., Bellantone, R., Lombardi, C. (eds) Surgery of the Adrenal Gland. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2586-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2586-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2585-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2586-8

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