DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2025.v13i07.016

Pages: 1441-1446

Background: The growing incidental detection of adrenal masses has emphasized the need for reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tools. Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) is commonly employed to evaluate adrenal lesions due to its accessibility and detailed imaging capabilities. However, its diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions must be critically assessed through comparison with histopathological findings, which remain the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CECT in differentiating benign from malignant adrenal lesions using histopathological findings as the gold standard. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of two years (April 2022 to March 2024) in the Department of Radiology and Imaging at Bangladesh University (BMU), Dhaka. Thirty patients with clinically or sonographically suspected adrenal masses were enrolled using purposive sampling. Each participant underwent a dedicated adrenal Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scan, performed using a standardized adrenal imaging protocol, including unenhanced, portal venous, and 15-minute delayed phases. Imaging findings were interpreted by experienced radiologists blinded to clinical and histopathological data. All patients subsequently underwent histopathological confirmation through biopsy or surgical excision, which served as the diagnostic gold standard. Comparative analysis between CECT and histopathology was conducted. Diagnostic performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall diagnostic accuracy of CECT in differentiating benign from malignant adrenal lesions, were calculated using appropriate statistical tools via SPSS version 26. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study of 30 patients with adrenal masses, the mean age was 40.9±17.8 years,