Carrying out 3mm, high-resolution, computerized, abdominal tomography (HRCT) is useful for evaluating an adrenal mass. An adrenal mass may arise from the adrenal medulla, as in pheochromocytoma. A unilateral adrenal mass may also be due to an adrenal tumor or, less commonly, to a unilateral adrenal hyperplasia resulting from primary hyperaldosteronism. A unilateral adrenal tumor or hyperplasia may, however, be non-functioning (ie, incidentaloma). A bilateral adrenal mass is commonly due to adrenal hyperplasia associated with primary hyperaldosteronism.
As pheochromocytoma is not suspected and an adrenal mass may be an incidentaloma, this is not an appropriate diagnostic test to perform at this stage.