06/12/2025
WEEK 6: Cracking the Case with CT to Investigate Abdominal Masses
CT Indication: Abdominal Masses
From incidental findings to surgical planning, CT helps precisely localize masses, determine vascular involvement, and evaluate for metastasis—all critical steps before intervention.
Case Highlight:
Patient had been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, but his clinical signs didn’t quite match. An abdominal ultrasound raised concern about a right adrenal mass with possible vascular invasion, so he was referred for CT to map the anatomy for surgical planning.
🔬 What CT Revealed:
- A heterogeneously enhancing 3.5cm right adrenal mass with central mineralization
- The mass extended into the caudal vena cava—likely via the phrenicoabdominal vein—causing significant vascular dilation
- Multiple small, ill-defined liver nodules, likely benign
- No evidence of metastasis in the chest or abdomen
🧠 Takeaway:
Patient’s CT gave his care team the precise vascular and soft tissue roadmap needed to weigh surgical risks, rule out obvious metastasis, and proceed with informed decision-making. While adrenal tumors can be aggressive, CT imaging helped the team plan a path forward.
📷 Check out full case study & images here: https://hubs.ly/Q034zJ8_00