FRI175 Presentation, Etiology And Outcomes Of Adrenal Hemorrhage A Large Single-center Study
Authors: Chinthapalli Mrunal Teja , Dogra Prerna , Sandooja Rashi , Rahimi Leili , Iniguez Ariza Nicole Marie , Foster Trenton , Bancos Irina 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: M. Chinthapalli: None. P. Dogra: None. R. Sandooja: None. L. Rahimi: None. N.M. Iniguez Ariza: None. T. Foster: None. I. Bancos: None.

Introduction: Adrenal glands are susceptible to hemorrhage due to their unique vasculature and physiological stress response. Scarce data are available on the presentation, etiology, and outcomes of adrenal hemorrhage (AH). Objective: To describe the presentation, etiological associations, and outcomes of patients with unilateral and bilateral AH. Methods: Single-center retrospective longitudinal study of consecutive patients reported to have AH on imaging performed between January 1st 2017-December 31st 2021. Clinical, baseline and follow up imaging, and laboratory data were reviewed. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the laterality (unilateral vs. bilateral) of AH. Results: Of 454 patients with AH (median age 62 years (IQR 50-70), 160 (35%) women), 383 (85%) had unilateral AH, 60 (13%) presented with synchronous bilateral AH, and 9 (2%) had unilateral AH followed by contralateral AH at a later time (metachronous bilateral AH). Only 93 (20%) patients had an evaluation by an endocrinologist. AH was discovered incidentally in 190 (42%) patients, and during evaluation for abdominal or back pain in 133 (29%), trauma in 104 (23%), sepsis in 19 (4%), and adrenal insufficiency in 8 (2%). Primary etiology of AH was a post-procedural complication in 154 (34%), trauma in 126 (28%), coagulopathy in 54 (12%), anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy in 52 (12%), adrenal neoplasm in 29 (6%) and sepsis in 20 (4%). Metastasis (15, 50%) represented the most common adrenal neoplasm associated with AH. In 208 (46%) patients, diagnosis of AH occurred in the hospital setting, and in 246 (54%) during an outpatient evaluation. In the 393 patients with available baseline imaging, the median size of AH was 3.1 cm (IQR 2.2-4.0). During a median imaging follow-up of 6 months (IQR 3-12), AH reduced in size with a median decrease of -2.6 cm (IQR -1.8 to -3.7) on the right and -2.0 cm (IQR -1.0 to -4.8) on the left. Compared to patients with unilateral AH, those with bilateral AH were more likely to be diagnosed in the hospital setting (61 vs. 43%, P=0.006), have an underlying coagulopathy (50 vs. 4%, P&lt;0.0001), or sepsis (13 vs. 3%, P&lt;0.0001), be on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy (48 vs. 21%, P&lt;0.0001), develop primary adrenal insufficiency (61 vs. 0%, P&lt;0.0001) and have larger baseline AH size (4 cm vs. left 2.7 and right 3.1 cm, P=0.0002), but a similar rate of resolution. Conclusions: AH frequently presents as unilateral hemorrhage and can occur secondary to various etiologies, with trauma and postprocedural complication being the most common. Association with an underlying adrenal mass is uncommon, seen only in 6%. Bilateral AH carries a high risk for primary adrenal insufficiency and is more likely to occur in hospitalized patients, possibly due to an increased prevalence of underlying coagulopathy, sepsis and need for anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.

Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023