[Ultrasonographic study of adrenal gland tumors (report of 5 cases)].

The authors study the ultrasound signs of the adrenal gland based on 5 different types of operated adrenal tumours (a lipoma, an adrenal cortical adenoma, a cyst, a corticoadrenaloma, an adrenal metastasis from a renal cell carcinoma). The ultrasonographic morphological criteria of the normal adrenal gland and each type of tumour are recalled and are illustrated by clinical cases. The value of ultrasonography in the investigation of this organ was evaluated in comparison with other imaging techniques. It constitutes a good first-line diagnostic guiding examination, but needs to be completed by other investigations (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.). Ultrasonography can also reveal asymptomatic adrenal tumours ("adrenal incidentalomas") in which the therapeutic decision (surveillance or surgery) must be based on criteria of size and appearance after a complete laboratory and morphological assessment.