Percutaneous needle-biopsy of the adrenal glands

This account of techniques, range of indications and results of percutaneous adrenal biopsy refers to communications in the literature and to the authors' own experience. Lateral, transhepatic aspiration of adrenal material guided by sonographic control is more easy in the right adrenal gland. Punctation of the left adrenal gland ought to be done from the back and guided by computerized tomography, also in order to leave spleen, kidney, pancreas and stomach as unaffected as possible. The most frequent problem indicating adrenal biopsy still is differentiation between metastases or encretorily non-active adenomas in tumor patients. Experienced examiners will achieve an 80 to 90% sensitivity of adrenal biopsy. Clinically established, suspected phaeochromocytoma is an absolute contra-indication to fine-needle biopsy. (orig./MG)