Adrenal masses found incidentally on imaging rarely change after diagnosis but may carry an increased risk for cardiometabolic conditions, a study shows.

US and UK researchers reviewed 32 studies reporting outcomes on more than 4100 patients (mean age 60, 62% women) whose tumours had been found incidentally on imaging.

Tumours fell into two types: benign non-functioning adrenal tumours or adenomas causing mild autonomous cortisol excess.

Average tumour growth was only 2mm over 53 months, while clinically significant tumour growth of 10mm or more happened in only 2.5% of patients.