Bilateral adrenal tumours in primary aldosteronism: localization of a unilateral aldosteronoma by dexamethasone suppression scan.
In a patient with primary aldosteronism, in which the postural endocrine tests suggested the presence of an aldosteronoma rather than hyperplasia, bilateral adrenal tumours were found by computer tomography. Adrenal scintigraphy using 6-131I-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NP59) during dexamethasone suppression showed early unilateral adrenal visualization on the left side. After removal of the left adrenal gland, which contained a 2 x 2 x 2 cm adenoma, the blood pressure and aldosterone levels returned to normal. A CT-scan, performed 1 year after the pre-operative CT-scan, showed no change in size of the right adrenal tumour, consistent with a non-functioning adenoma. In this patient, the NP59 scan adequately distinguished a non-functioning from an aldosterone-producing adrenal tumour.
Hollak
C E
CE
Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Prummel
M F
MF
Tiel-van Buul
M M
MM
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000301:Adosterol; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000209:etiology*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D000301:Adosterol; D003907:Dexamethasone