[Technic of real-time ultrasonic examination of the adrenal glands and adrenal gland tumors].

A prospective examination was carried out to determine the optimum technique for demonstrating the adrenal glands; there were 60 normal persons, 16 with small adrenal tumours (average size 13 mm.) and 10 with large adrenal tumours (average size 38 mm.). A normal adrenal gland was identified only once amongst the 60 patients as a hypoechoic structure. Fifteen of the 16 small, and eight of nine large tumours could be demonstrated sonographically. An intercostal approach was particularly suitable for showing the suprarenal region and for small tumours. Large tumours could be shown by a ventral, lateral or dorsal approach.