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. 2024 Apr 6;85(1):356–362. doi: 10.1007/s12020-024-03810-7

Table 1.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms and adrenal masses, also divided into two groups which are compared

All patients with NEN and adrenal masses (n = 16) Patients with NEN and 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT (n = 12) Patients with NEN and adrenalectomy (n = 4) P value
Age at NEN diagnosis (years) 59.5 (39−80) 62 (39−80) 58.5 (52−75) 0.99
Sex F n = 5, M = 11 F n = 5, M n = 7 F n = 0, M = 4 0.24
Primary tumor 0.038
Ileal-NET (n) 8 (50%) 8 (67%)
Pancreatic-NET (n) 2 (13%) 2 (17%)
Atypical bronchial-NET (n) 2 (13%) 1 (8%) 1 (25%)
Small cell abdominal-NEC (n) 1 (6%) 1 (8%)
Skin-NECa (n) 1 (6%) 1 (25%)
Gastric-NET (n) 1 (6%) 1 (25%)
Pulmonary large cell-NEC (n) 1 (6%) 1 (25%)
Ki-67 7.2% (0.1−80%) 1.9% (0.1−80%) 47.5% (4.5−80%) 0.091
Grade 2 (1−3) 1 (1−3) 2.5 (2−3) 0.077
Stage 3 (2−4) 4 (2−4) 3 (2−3) 0.062
When adrenal mass seen on PET/CT or scintigraphy
 Age at diagnosis of adrenal tumor (years) 64.5 (39−80) 66.5 (39−80) 60.5 (54−78) 0.96
 First PET/CT or scintigraphy the adrenal mass was seen (n) 14 (88%) 10 (83%) 4 (100%) 1
 Adrenal mass known before (n) 7 (44%) 3 (25%) 4 (100%) <0.001
Adrenal mass strongly positive on PET/CT or scintigraphyb 13 (81%) 9 (75%) (68Ga-DOTATOC) 4 (100%) (3 18F-FDG, 1 111In-pentetreotide) 0.52
Bilateral 1 (6%) 1 (8%) 0 (0%) 1
Left n, size (mm) 11 (69%), 18 (10−80) 9 (75%), 15 (10−80) 2 (50%), 35.5 (28−43) 0.55, 0.45
Right n, size (mm) 6(38%), 70 (34−90) 4 (33%), 70 (36−85) 2 (50%), 62 (34−90) 0.60,0.90
Total size (mm) 26.5 (10−160) 19 (10−160) 38.5 (28−90) 0.68
Lipid rich tumor 3 (19%) 3 (25%) 0 (0%) 0.53
Considered to be NEN metastasesc 13 (81%) 9 (75%) 4 (100%) 0.52
Adrenal hormones assessedd
Any (n) 9 (56%) 5 (42%) 4 (100%) 0.089
All (n) 4 (25%) 2 (17%) 2 (50%) 0.24
Other metastasis at the time of adrenal mass discovery (n) 11 (69%) 9 (75%) 2 (50%) 0.55
Liver metastases (n) 8 (50%) 8 (67%)
Abdominal lymph node metastases (n) 7 (44%) 7 (58%)
Pancreatic metastases (n) 1 (6%) 1 (8%)
Peritoneal carcinosis (n) 1 (6%) 1 (8%)
Bone metastases (n) 3 (19%) 2 (17%) 1 (25%)
Lung metastases (n) 4 (25%) 2 (17%) 2 (50%)
Neck lymph node metastases (n) 1 (6%) 1 (8%)
Brain metastases (n) 1 (6%) 1 (8%)
No metastasis 5 (31%) 3 (25%)e 2 (50%)f 0.55
Follow-up since adrenal mass diagnosis 2 years (0−11 years) 1 year (0−11 years) 3 years (2−9 years) 0.25
Dead (n) 6 (38%) 3 (25%) 3 (75%) 0.11
Cause of death (n)

4 (25%) metastases

1 (6%) carcinoid crisis

1 (6%) Cushing syndrome

1 (33%) carcinoid crisis

1 (33%) metastasis

1 (33%) Cushing syndrome

3 (100%) metastases

aMerkel Cell Carcinoma

bAll primary tumors were strongly positive as well

cCortisol, metaneprhines, aldosterone and renin concentrations, in the any group at least the metanephrines were controlled. One patient with ileal NET develops Cushing syndrome suspected to be ectopic

dIn those not having histology this assumption was built on a combination of radiological parameters, e.g., a strong uptake on PET/CT or scintigraphy, lipid contents, growth pattern and other radiological features

e1 patient developed extensive liver metastases within 2 years. NEN, neuroendocrine neoplasia. NET, neuroendocrine tumor. NEC, neuroendocrine carcinoma

f1 patient developed a brain metastasis within 3 years