Regulates metabolism of glucose, protein, & fat; responds to stress by ↑ blood glucose levels & cardiac output
Zona reticularis: Dehydroepiandrosterone
Sex hormone that works much like testosterone
Adrenal medulla: Makes & stores epinephrine, norepinephrine
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Selected References
Aderotimi TS et al: Ultrasound of the adrenal gland in children. Ultrasound. 29(1):48-56, 2021
Hanafy AK et al: Imaging features of adrenal gland masses in the pediatric population. Abdom Radiol (NY). 45(4):964-81, 2020
Lesieur E et al: Prenatal assessment of atypical adrenal glands: a systematic approach for diagnosis. J Ultrasound Med. 40(8):1719-28, 2020
Alonso V et al: Conservative management of scrotal hematoma secondary to adrenal hemorrhage in newborns. Urology. 133:e1-2, 2019
Iijima S: Sonographic evaluation of adrenal size in neonates (23 to 41 weeks of gestation). BMC Pediatr. 18(1):60, 2018
Majmudar A et al: "Lying-down" adrenal sign: there are exceptions to the rule among fetuses and neonates. J Ultrasound Med. 36(12):2599-603, 2017
Paltiel H et al: The pediatric kidney and adrenal glands. In Rumack CM et al: Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Elsevier Mosby. 1775-832, 2017
Ben-Mordechay D et al: Sonographic detection of accessory adrenal tissue in neonates. J Ultrasound Med. 35(5):959-63, 2016
Bittman ME et al: Focal adrenal lesions in pediatric patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 200(6):W542-56, 2013
Wassner AJ et al: Endocrine physiology in the newborn. Semin Pediatr Surg. 22(4):205-10, 2013
Yao W et al: Neonatal suprarenal mass: differential diagnosis and treatment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 139(2):281-6, 2013
Akin MA et al: Intrahepatic and adrenal hemorrhage as a rare cause of neonatal anemia. J Perinat Med. 39(3):353-4, 2011
Kutluk G et al: Bilateral adrenal abscesses as a complication of neonatal suprarenal hemorrhage. Pediatr Int. 52(4):e207-8, 2010
Nykänen P et al: Serum concentrations of adrenal steroids and their precursors as a measure of maturity of adrenocortical function in very premature newborns. Horm Res Paediatr. 74(5):358-64, 2010
Buyukkayhan D et al: Effect of antenatal betamethasone use on adrenal gland size and endogenous cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in preterm neonates. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 22(11):1027-31, 2009
Duman N et al: Scrotal hematoma due to neonatal adrenal hemorrhage. Pediatr Int. 46(3):360-2, 2004
Merrot T et al: Prenatally detected cystic adrenal mass associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Fetal Diagn Ther. 19(6):465-9, 2004
Ng PC et al: Transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity and systemic hypotension in very low birthweight infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 89(2):F119-26, 2004
Rahmah R et al: Bilateral adrenal cysts and ectopic pancreatic tissue in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: is a conservative approach acceptable? J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 17(6):909-12, 2004
Watterberg KL: Adrenocortical function and dysfunction in the fetus and neonate. Semin Neonatol. 9(1):13-21, 2004
Subhedar NV: Treatment of hypotension in newborns. Semin Neonatol. 8(6):413-23, 2003
Sul HJ et al: Congenital neuroblastoma with multiple metastases: a case report. J Korean Med Sci. 18(4):618-20, 2003
Walther FJ et al: Adrenal suppression and extubation rate after moderately early low-dose dexamethasone therapy in very preterm infants. Early Hum Dev. 74(1):37-45, 2003
Hibbert J et al: The ultrasound appearances of neonatal renal vein thrombosis. Br J Radiol. 70(839):1191-4, 1997
Westra SJ et al: Imaging of the adrenal gland in children. Radiographics. 14(6):1323-40, 1994
Avni EF et al: Sonographic demonstration of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the neonate: the cerebriform pattern. Pediatr Radiol. 23(2):88-90, 1993
Sivit CM et al: Adrenal hemorrhage in infants undergoing ECMO: prevalence and clinical significance. Pediatr Radiol. 23(7):519-21, 1993
Sivit CJ et al: Sonography in neonatal congenital adrenal hyperplasia. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 156(1):141-3, 1991
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Suprarenal gland
Definitions
Part of hypothalamic-pituitary axis that regulates many body functions & responds to stress
Adrenal cortex: Largest part of adrenal gland; 3 layers produce different hormones (described below from superficial to deep)
Regulates metabolism of glucose, protein, & fat; responds to stress by ↑ blood glucose levels & cardiac output
Zona reticularis: Dehydroepiandrosterone
Sex hormone that works much like testosterone
Adrenal medulla: Makes & stores epinephrine, norepinephrine
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Selected References
Aderotimi TS et al: Ultrasound of the adrenal gland in children. Ultrasound. 29(1):48-56, 2021
Hanafy AK et al: Imaging features of adrenal gland masses in the pediatric population. Abdom Radiol (NY). 45(4):964-81, 2020
Lesieur E et al: Prenatal assessment of atypical adrenal glands: a systematic approach for diagnosis. J Ultrasound Med. 40(8):1719-28, 2020
Alonso V et al: Conservative management of scrotal hematoma secondary to adrenal hemorrhage in newborns. Urology. 133:e1-2, 2019
Iijima S: Sonographic evaluation of adrenal size in neonates (23 to 41 weeks of gestation). BMC Pediatr. 18(1):60, 2018
Majmudar A et al: "Lying-down" adrenal sign: there are exceptions to the rule among fetuses and neonates. J Ultrasound Med. 36(12):2599-603, 2017
Paltiel H et al: The pediatric kidney and adrenal glands. In Rumack CM et al: Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Elsevier Mosby. 1775-832, 2017
Ben-Mordechay D et al: Sonographic detection of accessory adrenal tissue in neonates. J Ultrasound Med. 35(5):959-63, 2016
Bittman ME et al: Focal adrenal lesions in pediatric patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 200(6):W542-56, 2013
Wassner AJ et al: Endocrine physiology in the newborn. Semin Pediatr Surg. 22(4):205-10, 2013
Yao W et al: Neonatal suprarenal mass: differential diagnosis and treatment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 139(2):281-6, 2013
Akin MA et al: Intrahepatic and adrenal hemorrhage as a rare cause of neonatal anemia. J Perinat Med. 39(3):353-4, 2011
Kutluk G et al: Bilateral adrenal abscesses as a complication of neonatal suprarenal hemorrhage. Pediatr Int. 52(4):e207-8, 2010
Nykänen P et al: Serum concentrations of adrenal steroids and their precursors as a measure of maturity of adrenocortical function in very premature newborns. Horm Res Paediatr. 74(5):358-64, 2010
Buyukkayhan D et al: Effect of antenatal betamethasone use on adrenal gland size and endogenous cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in preterm neonates. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 22(11):1027-31, 2009
Duman N et al: Scrotal hematoma due to neonatal adrenal hemorrhage. Pediatr Int. 46(3):360-2, 2004
Merrot T et al: Prenatally detected cystic adrenal mass associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Fetal Diagn Ther. 19(6):465-9, 2004
Ng PC et al: Transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity and systemic hypotension in very low birthweight infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 89(2):F119-26, 2004
Rahmah R et al: Bilateral adrenal cysts and ectopic pancreatic tissue in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: is a conservative approach acceptable? J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 17(6):909-12, 2004
Watterberg KL: Adrenocortical function and dysfunction in the fetus and neonate. Semin Neonatol. 9(1):13-21, 2004
Subhedar NV: Treatment of hypotension in newborns. Semin Neonatol. 8(6):413-23, 2003
Sul HJ et al: Congenital neuroblastoma with multiple metastases: a case report. J Korean Med Sci. 18(4):618-20, 2003
Walther FJ et al: Adrenal suppression and extubation rate after moderately early low-dose dexamethasone therapy in very preterm infants. Early Hum Dev. 74(1):37-45, 2003
Hibbert J et al: The ultrasound appearances of neonatal renal vein thrombosis. Br J Radiol. 70(839):1191-4, 1997
Westra SJ et al: Imaging of the adrenal gland in children. Radiographics. 14(6):1323-40, 1994
Avni EF et al: Sonographic demonstration of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the neonate: the cerebriform pattern. Pediatr Radiol. 23(2):88-90, 1993
Sivit CM et al: Adrenal hemorrhage in infants undergoing ECMO: prevalence and clinical significance. Pediatr Radiol. 23(7):519-21, 1993
Sivit CJ et al: Sonography in neonatal congenital adrenal hyperplasia. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 156(1):141-3, 1991
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