Available online 3 October 2023

Cinematic rendering utilizes a complex global lighting model that incorporates elements of ray tracing and scatter to generate photorealistic images.

Cinematic rendering can enhance the appreciation of the adrenal mass internal components (e.g., fat, calcifications) that may be helpful in the diagnosis.

Cinematic rendering can also highlight the spatial relationship between the adrenal mass and the adjacent organs and vasculature and assist in preoperative planning.

The adrenal gland is home to an array of complex physiological and neoplastic disease processes. While dedicated adrenal computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard imaging modality for adrenal lesions, there exists significant overlap among imaging features of adrenal pathology. This can often make radiological diagnosis and subsequent determination of the optimal surgical approach challenging. Cinematic rendering (CR) is a novel CT post-processing technique that utilizes advanced light modeling to generate highly photorealistic anatomic visualization. This generates unique prospects in the evaluation of adrenal masses. As one of the first large tertiary care centers to incorporate CR into routine diagnostic workup, our preliminary experience with using CR has been positive, and we have found CR to be a valuable adjunct during surgical planning. Herein, we highlight the unique utility of CR techniques in the workup of adrenal lesions and provide commentary on the opportunities and obstacles associated with the application of this novel display method in this setting.

Adrenal gland

Cinematic rendering

Computed tomography (CT)

Imaging

Three-dimensional

Adrenocortical carcinoma

Adrenal cortical hyperplasia

Absolute percentage washout

Area under receiver operating characteristic curve

Primary adrenal lymphoma

Relative percentage washout

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