Prevalence of Functioning Adrenal Incidentalomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
This meta-analysis provides extensive data on the prevalence of functioning AIs and the factors affecting heterogeneity in prevalence estimates.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with adrenal incidentaloma (AI); studies in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science up to February 2022, no language restriction36 studies
- Outcome
- Prevalence of autonomous/possible autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), PA, pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and CS in patients with AI
Methodological detailsmeta-regression, subgroup analysis, 1661 publications screened, 161 full text, 36 included; data extracted by 3 independent reviewers
- Meta-regression
- Subgroup analysis
- 1661 publications screened, 161 full text, 36 included; data extracted by 3 independent reviewers
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of functioning AIs
- Overall functioning AIs
- 27.5% (95% CI 23.0, 32.5)
- Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS)/possible ACS (most frequent)
- 11.7% (95% CI 8.6, 15.7)
- Primary aldosteronism (PA)
- 4.4% (95% CI 3.1, 6.2)
- Pheochromocytoma (PHEO)
- 3.8% (95% CI 2.8, 5.0)
- Cushing syndrome (CS)
- 3.1% (95% CI 2.3, 4.3)
Further pooled results
Subgroup by region
- PA more prevalent in patients from Asia than Europe/America
- ACS/possible ACS lower prevalence in Asian countries
Meta-regression
- ACS/possible ACS prevalence influenced by proportion of female patients
- PA prevalence positively associated with proportion with hypertension and publication year
Original publication
Prevalence of Functioning Adrenal Incidentalomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 31 January 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →