Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic resonance imaging of the adrenal glands

  • Published:
Urologic radiology

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to the adrenal gland have received considerable attention in recent years. Using high field strength magnets and surface coil technology, images of normal and abnormal adrenal glands have been obtained that compare favorably, and in some instances excel, computed tomography (CT) with respect to both image quality and, to a greater degree, differentiation of pathology. This article reviews the current state of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of normal and abnormal adrenal glands, compares MR with CT imaging, and indicates where NMR spectroscopy has been of greatest value to date in the study of adrenal gland disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Daniels A, Williams RJP, Wright PE: Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the adrenal gland and some other organs.Nature 261:321–323, 1976

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sheetz MP, Chan SI: Proton magnetic resonance of whole human erythrocyte membranes.Biochemistry 11:548–555, 1972

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Keough KM, Oldfield E, Chapman D, Bryman P: Carbon-13 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance of unsonicated model and mitochondrial membrane.Chem Phys Lipids 10:37–50, 1973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Burt CT, Cohen SM, Barany M: Analysis of intact tissue with31P NMR.Annu Rev Biophys Chem 8:1–25, 1979

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Glonek T, Marotta SF:31P magnetic resonance of intact endocrine tissue: adrenal glands of dogs.Horm Metab Res 10:420–424, 1978

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bevington A, Briggs RW, Radda GK, Thulborn KR: Phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of pig adrenal glands.Neuroscience 11:281–286, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Reinig JW, Doppman JL, Dwyer AJ, Johnson AR, Knop RH: Distinction between adrenal adenomas and metastases using MR imaging.J Comput Assist Tomogr 9:898–901, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Glazer GM, Woolsey EJ, Burrello J, Francis IR, Aisen AM, Bookstein F, Amendola MA, Gross MD, Bree RL, Martel W: Adrenal tissue characterization using MR imaging.Radiology 158:73–79, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Reinig JW, Doppman JL, Dwyer AJ, Johnson AR, Knop RH: Adrenal masses differentiated by MR.Radiology 158:81–84, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Damadian R: Tumor detection by nuclear magnetic resonance.Science 171:1151–1153, 1971

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Choyke PL, Kressel HY, Reichek N, Axel L, Gefter W, Mamourian A, Thickman D: Nongated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary experience at 0.12T.AJR 143:1143–1150, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Schultz CL, Alfidi RJ, Nelson AD, Kopiwoda SY, Clampitt ME: The effect of motion on two-dimensional Fourier transformation magnetic resonance images.Radiology 152:117–121, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bailes DR, Gilderdale DJ, Bydder GM, Collins AG, Firmin DN: Respiratory ordered phase encoding (ROPE): method for reducing respiratory motion artifacts in MR imaging.J Comput Assist Tomogr 9:835–838, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. White EM, Edelman RR, Stark DD, Simeone JF, Mueller PR, Brady TJ, Wittenberg J, Butch R, Ferrucci JT Jr: Surface coil MR imaging of abdominal viscera. Part II. The adrenal glands.Radiology 157:431–436, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ganong GF:Review of Medical Physiology, 8th ed. Los Altos, CA: Lange Medical Publications, 1977, pp 270–292

    Google Scholar 

  16. Symington T: The morphology of the adrenal cortex.Biochem Soc Symp 18:40–49, 1960

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schultz CL, Haaga JR, Fletcher BD, Alfidi RJ, Schultz MA: Magnetic resonance imaging of the adrenal glands: a comparison with computed tomography.AJR 143:1235–1240, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Moon KL Jr, Hricak H, Crooks LE, Gooding CA, Moss AA, Engelstad BL, Kaufman L: Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the adrenal gland: a preliminary report.Radiology 147:155–160, 1983

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Demas BE, Hricak H, Williams RD: Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of urologic malignancies.Semin Urol 3:27–33, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Glazer HS, Weyman PJ, Sagel SS, Levitt RG, McClennan BL: Nonfunctioning adrenal masses: incidental discovery on computed tomography.AJR 139:81–85, 1982

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hussain S, Belldegrun A, Seltzer SE, Richie JP, Gittes RF, Abrams HL: Differentiation of malignant from benign adrenal masses: predictive indices on computed tomography.AJR 144:61–65, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Davis PL, Hricak H, Bradley WG Jr: Magnetic resonance imaging of the adrenal glands.Radiol Clin North Am 22:891–895, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Brasch RC: Methods of contrast enchancement for NMR imaging and potential applications: a subject review.Radiology 147:781–788, 1983

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Laursen K, Damgaard-Pedersen K: CT for pheochromocytoma diagnosis.AJR 134:277–280, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Welch TJ, Sheedy, PF, Van Heerden JA, Sheps SG, Hattery RR, Stephens DH: Pheochromocytoma: value of computed tomography.Radiology 148:501–503, 1983

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Fink IJ, Reinig JW, Dwyer AJ, Doppman JL, Linehan WM, Keiser HR: MR imaging of pheochromocytomas.J Comput Assist Tomogr 9:454–458, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Cohen MD, Weetman R, Provisor A, McGuire W, McKenna S, Smith JA, Carr B, Siddiqui A, Mirkin D, Seo I, Klatte EC: Magnetic resonance imaging of neuroblastoma with a 0.15T magnet.AJR 143:1241–1248, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Maris JM, Evans AE, McLaughlin AC, D’Angio GJ, Bolinger L, Manos H, Chance B:31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigation of human neuroblastoma in situ.N Engl J Med 312:1500–1505, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gyulai L, Bolinger L, Leigh JS, Barlow C, Chance B: Phosphorylethanolamine—the major constituent of the phosphomonoester peak observed by31P-NMR on developing dog brain.FEBS Letts 178:137–142, 1984

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Cady EB, Dawson MJ, Hope PL: Non-invasive investigation of cerebral metabolism in newborn infants by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Lancet 1:1059–1062, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Reuben Mezrich

    Present address: Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Reuben Mezrich, Marc P. Banner M.D. & Howard M. Pollack

Authors
  1. Reuben Mezrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marc P. Banner M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Howard M. Pollack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mezrich, R., Banner, M.P. & Pollack, H.M. Magnetic resonance imaging of the adrenal glands. Urol Radiol 8, 127–138 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02924096

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02924096

Key words

Search

Navigation