Assessment of Morphology and Thickness of Adrenal Gland Using a 128-slice MDCT Scanner in a Medical College Hospital in Eastern India

A BSTRACT Background: Adrenal glands are a paired structure sitting on top of both kidneys which are very important from an endocrinology point of view. It is the source of multiple vital hormones in the body which regulate numerous metabolic and physiological functions. Aim: To determine the size and shape of the normal adrenal gland on computed tomography (CT) in the Indian population. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to June 2024 in a tertiary care center in eastern India. A total of 360 patients were included in the study after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Images obtained in 128-slice CT. Three measurements were taken in axial images including the maximum width of the body, the lateral limb, and the medial limb. Results: The mean maximum thickness [mean (SD)] of the adrenal body, medial, and lateral limbs was 4.8 (2.4), 3.4 (1.1), and 3.3 (1.3) mm on the right side and 4.9 (2.5), 3.7 (1.5), and 4.1 (1.1) mm on the left. There was a statistically significant difference in all the measurements between the right and left adrenal glands (all P values = 0.000) and between men and women, being larger in men and on the left side ( P value < 0.05). Conclusion: There is considerable variation in the size and shape of the adrenal glands. A baseline measurement of the normal range needs to be defined to raise suspicion about whether or not a bulky adrenal gland is pathologically enlarged or within physiological anatomic limits.