What finding is typically seen on CT in patients with adrenal tuberculosis?

In cases of adrenal tuberculosis, CT imaging often reveals specific features associated with the disease. A hallmark finding is the presence of adrenal calcifications. This occurs due to the necrotizing nature of tuberculosis, which can lead to granulomatous inflammation and subsequent calcification in the affected adrenal glands.

This calcification may not be immediate and can develop over time as the infection progresses. The presence of adrenal calcifications on CT helps differentiate adrenal tuberculosis from other adrenal pathologies, such as adrenal tumors or metastatic disease, which do not typically present with calcifications in the same manner.

While adrenal mass or enlargement may suggest other conditions, they are less characteristic of tuberculosis. In addition, infiltration of surrounding tissues is more generally associated with aggressive tumors rather than the granulomatous process seen in tuberculosis. Overall, recognizing adrenal calcifications on imaging is key to diagnosing adrenal tuberculosis in patients who may present with adrenal insufficiency or other systemic symptoms related to tuberculosis.