Adrenocortical function compared with computed tomography of the adrenals in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Autopsy in patients with pulmonary small cell carcinoma frequently reveals metastases to the adrenal glands. In order to test the hypothesis that CT scanning might demonstrate such metastases at the time of clinical diagnosis of the pulmonary disease, the results of adrenal CT in 15 patients were correlated to adrenocortical function tests. No statistically significant relationship was found. It is concluded that no reliable non-invasive method exists to diagnose adrenal metastases in patients with pulmonary small cell carcinoma.