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Traumatic and non-traumatic adrenal emergencies

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Abstract

Multiple traumatic and non-traumatic adrenal emergencies are occasionally encountered during the cross-sectional imaging of emergency department patients. Traumatic adrenal hematomas are markers of severe polytrauma, and can be easily overlooked due to multiple concomitant injuries. Patients with non-traumatic adrenal emergencies usually present to an emergency department with a non-specific clinical picture. The detection and management of adrenal emergencies is based on cross-sectional imaging. Adrenal hemorrhage, adrenal infection, or rupture of adrenal neoplasm require immediate detection to avoid dire consequences. More often however, adrenal emergencies are detected incidentally in patients being investigated for non-specific acute abdominal pain. A high index of suspicion is required for the establishment of timely diagnosis and to avert potentially life-threatening complications. We describe cross-sectional imaging findings in patients with traumatic and non-traumatic adrenal hemorrhage, adrenal infarctions, adrenal infections, and complications of adrenal masses.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA

    Victoria Chernyak & Alla M. Rozenblit

  2. Division of Emergency/Trauma Radiology, Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Michael N. Patlas

  3. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Christine O. Menias

  4. Department of Radiology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Jorge A. Soto

  5. Division of Abdominal and Pelvic Imaging, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Ania Z. Kielar

  6. Department of Radiology, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Luigia Romano

  7. Department of Radiology, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA

    Douglas S. Katz

  8. Division of Emergency/Trauma Radiology, Department of Radiology, Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8L 2X2

    Michael N. Patlas

Authors
  1. Victoria Chernyak
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  2. Michael N. Patlas
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  3. Christine O. Menias
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  4. Jorge A. Soto
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  5. Ania Z. Kielar
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  6. Alla M. Rozenblit
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  7. Luigia Romano
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  8. Douglas S. Katz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael N. Patlas.

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Chernyak, V., Patlas, M.N., Menias, C.O. et al. Traumatic and non-traumatic adrenal emergencies. Emerg Radiol 22, 697–704 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-015-1357-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-015-1357-y

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