[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29542]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


State-of-the-Science Conference on Management of Clinically 
Inapparent Adrenal Mass (Incidentaloma)

    Notice is hereby given of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
State-of-the-Science Conference on ``Management of the Clinically 
Inapparent Adrenal Mass (Incidentaloma)'' to be held February 4 to 6, 
2002, in the NIH Natcher Conference Center, 45 Center Drive, Bethesda, 
Maryland 20892. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on February 4 
and 5 and at 9:00 a.m. on February 6 and will be open to the public.
    Adrenal gland masses occur in at least 3 percent of persons over 
age 50. Although most cause no symptoms or health problems, a small 
proportion can lead to serious diseases, and approximately one out of 
every 4,000 adrenal masses is cancerous. Physicians discover many 
adrenal masses inadvertently, while testing or treating patients for 
other conditions. These clinically inapparent masses are commonly known 
as incidentalomas.
    Incidentalomas raise challenging questions for physicians and their 
patients, including what, if any, surgical or nonsurgical treatment is 
the best approach. The appropriate management of incidentalomas 
promises to be an increasingly common challenge for our aging society.
    Over the past several years, new information about the 
epidemiology, biology, screening, treatment, and follow-up of adrenal 
tumors has become available. This conference will explore and assess 
the current scientific knowledge regarding adrenal incidentalomas so 
that health care providers and the general public can make informed 
decisions about this important public health issue.
    During the first day and a half of the conference, experts will 
present the latest research findings on clinically inapparent adrenal 
masses to an independent non-Federal panel. After weighing all of the 
scientific evidence, the panel will draft a statement that will address 
the following key questions:
     What are the causes, prevalence, and natural history of 
clinically inapparent adrenal masses?
     Based on available scientific evidence, what is the 
appropriate evaluation of a clinically inapparent adrenal mass?
     What criteria should guide the decision on surgical versus 
nonsurgical management of these masses?
     If surgery is indicated, what is the appropriate 
procedure?
     What is the appropriate follow-up for patients for each 
management approach?
     What additional research is needed to guide practice?
    On the final day of the conference, the panel chair will read the 
panel's draft statement in public, at which time members of the public 
are invited to offer comments on the draft.
    The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and 
the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) are the 
primary sponsors of this meeting. The National Cancer Institute will 
cosponsor the meeting.
    Advance information about the conference and conference 
registration materials may be obtained from Prospect Associates of 
Silver Spring, Maryland, by calling 301-592-3320 or by sending e-mail 
to [email protected]. Prospect Associates' address is 10720 
Columbia Pike, Suite 500, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901-4437. A 
conference agenda and registration information are also available on 
the NIH Consensus Program Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov.
    Please Note: Organizations that wish to make 5-minute presentations 
on the conference topic should contact Elsa Bray of NIH/OMAR by 
telephone (301-496-4999) or e-mail ([email protected]) no later than 
January 14, 2002. The NIH has recently instituted new security measures 
to ensure the safety of NIH employees and property. All visitors must 
be prepared to show a photo ID upon request. Visitors may be required 
to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks, or purses 
inspected or x-rayed as they enter NIH buildings. Conference attendees 
may want to leave extra bags or personal materials at their hotel to 
minimize the time needed for inspection. For more information about the 
new security measures at NIH, please visit the Web site at http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorssecurity.htm.

    Dated: November 19, 2001.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Acting Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 01-29542 Filed 11-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M