Management Approach of Adrenal Incidentaloma

Background: The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas is increasing substantially with cross-sectional imaging, with reported prevalence from 1% to 5% on computed tomography and up to 8.7% at autopsy. While the majority of incidentalomas are benign nonfunctional adenomas, clinicians face the critical challenge of identifying the rare adrenocortical carcinoma (0.5–2 per million annually), which carries an extremely poor prognosis with 5-year survival of only 50% and 20 are suspicious (6.3% risk), both warranting comprehensive evaluation. Hormonal evaluation: MACS is diagnosed by a positive 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test for cortisol without clinical Cushing features; overt Cushing presents with markedly elevated cortisol, suppressed ACTH, and characteristic clinical stigmata. Primary aldosteronism with an aldosterone-to-renin ratio of >30 requires confirmatory testing. Pheochromocytoma diagnosis requires plasma-free metanephrines. A growth rate of >0.8 cm/year predicts malignancy. Conclusions: Comprehensive evaluation incorporating imaging characterization, hormonal testing, and growth surveillance provides an evidence-based framework for safe management of adrenal incidentalomas. Recent randomized controlled trials support expanded surgical indications in carefully selected MACS patients, particularly those with documented comorbidities, demonstrating superior cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes compared with medical management alone. The paradigm has shifted from treating secondary comorbidities medically to addressing the underlying autonomous cortisol production surgically. Minimally invasive adrenalectomy remains the gold standard surgical approach in experienced hands.