| adrenal hyperplasia, congenital | A group of inherited disorders of adrenal steroidogenesis, the physical expression of which varies with the sex of the patient, the severity of the congenital enzyme defect, and the age at which the defect makes its presence felt. The most common form, the simple virilizing form, is due to a 21-hydroxylase deficiency. There is also a salt-losing form (a more complete 21-hydroxylase deficiency), a hypertensive form (11-hydroxylase deficiency), a 17-hydroxylase deficiency form, a desmolase deficiency form, and a 3-beta-hydroxysteroid deficiency form. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| adrenal hypertension | Hypertension due to an adrenal medullary pheochromocytoma or to hyperactivity or functioning tumour of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal imaging | <radiology> Cortex, I-131 iodo-cholesterol, not widely used due to high rad dose and 4-15 day delayed imaging, medulla, search for pheo, MIBG (I-131 meta-iodobenzylguanidine) (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal insufficiency | <endocrinology> A condition that results from the inadequate production of adrenal hormones (see Addison's disease). (27 Sep 1997) |
| adrenal leukodystrophy | Sudanophilic leukodystrophy with bronzing of skin and adrenal atrophy. A metabolic disorder of young males, characterised by widespread myelin degeneration and associated adrenal insufficiency. The myelin degeneration is massive in various portions of the brain and sometimes the spinal cord, with the accumulation of degradation products of myelin in macrophages: sudanophilic demyelination; atrophy is present in the adrenal glands and testes, and markedly increased amounts of very long-chain fatty acid are present in both the brain and adrenal glands. Symptoms include bronzing of the skin, dysarthria, cortical blindness, bilateral hemiplegia, pseudobulbar paralysis, and progressive dementia. Probably sex-linked recessive inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal mass | <radiology> Metastasis, most common (especially lung, melanoma), primary adenocarcinoma, large at diagnosis (greater than 5 cm), usually functional (increased corticosteroids most likely to be Cushing's), rapid growth, benign adrenal adenoma, with or without functional, nonfunctional occurs in 2-8% of population, diff from metastasis: MRI (metastasis bright on T2), biopsy, follow, pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, myelolipoma, cyst / pseudocyst see also: adrenal calcification, haemorrhage (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal medulla | The inner part of the adrenal gland; it synthesises, stores and releases catecholamines. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal medullary imaging | <investigation, radiology> A nuclear scan that images the adrenal glands after a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream. This test is useful in detecting a pheochromocytoma, particularly if it not within the adrenal gland. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adrenal myelolipoma | <radiology> Benign adrenal tumour, fat, bone marrow elements, usually an incidental finding, also known as adrenal choristoma, only adrenal mass containing fat (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal rest | An island of cortical tissue separate from the adrenal gland, usually found in the retroperitoneal tissues, kidney, or genital organs. Synonym: adrenal rest. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal rest tumour | A rare, usually benign, ovarian tumour thought to be derived from embryonic rest cells of the adrenals. This tumour causes various degrees of masculinization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal virilism | Virilism produced by excessive or abnormal secretory patterns of adrenocortical steroids. Synonym: adrenal virilizing syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal virilizing syndrome | Virilism produced by excessive or abnormal secretory patterns of adrenocortical steroids. Synonym: adrenal virilizing syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amorphous fraction of adrenal cortex | Noncrystalline residue of an acetone extract of the adrenal cortex after crystalline steroids, e.g., corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, etc., have been isolated. (05 Mar 2000) |