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Adrenal gland volume measurement in septic shock and control patients: a pilot study

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Abstract

Objectives:

To compare adrenal gland volume in septic shock patients and control patients by using semi-automated volumetry.

Methods:

Adrenal gland volume and its inter-observer variability were measured with tomodensitometry using semi-automated software in 104 septic shock patients and in 40 control patients. The volumes of control and septic shock patients were compared and the relationship between volume and outcome in intensive care was studied.

Results:

The mean total volume of both adrenal glands was 7.2 ± 2.0 cm3 in control subjects and 13.3 ± 4.7 cm3 for total adrenal gland volume in septic shock patients (p < 0.0001). Measurement reproducibility was excellent with a concordance correlation coefficient value of 0.87. The increasing adrenal gland volume was associated with a higher rate of survival in intensive care.

Conclusion:

The present study reports that with semi-automated software, adrenal gland volume can be measured easily and reproducibly. Adrenal gland volume was found to be nearly double in sepsis compared with control patients. The absence of increased volume during sepsis would appear to be associated with a higher rate of mortality and may represent a prognosis factor which may help the clinician to guide their strategy.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Bonnel, M.D, Intrasense Society, Montpellier, France for logistical assistance.

Presented in part at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the French Society of Radiologists (Paris, France, October 24–28, 2008)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Abdominal Imaging, CHU Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France

    Stephanie Nougaret, S. Aufort & B. Gallix

  2. Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Anesthesiology: DAR B, CHU Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France

    B. Jung, G. Chanques & S. Jaber

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  1. Stephanie Nougaret
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  2. B. Jung
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  5. S. Jaber
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  6. B. Gallix
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Correspondence to Stephanie Nougaret.

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Nougaret, S., Jung, B., Aufort, S. et al. Adrenal gland volume measurement in septic shock and control patients: a pilot study. Eur Radiol 20, 2348–2357 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1804-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1804-9

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