[The role of adrenal gland x-ray computed tomography and scintigraphy using radiolabelled norcholesterol in the etiological diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism]

Rev Med Interne. 1993;14(7):691-7. doi: 10.1016/s0248-8663(05)81234-2.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The major etiologies of primary aldosteronism are aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma, requiring a surgical treatment, and bilateral hyperplasia, usually managed with medical therapy. We only report a retrospective study on 22 patients with primary aldosteronism diagnosed by clinical and usual biochemical tests. All the patients were explored by computed tomography scan (CT) and iodomethyl-norcholesterol scintigraphy. The purpose of this study was to compare the capacity of the two methods to differentiate adrenal adenoma and hyperplasia. The CT scan was more sensitive (sensitivity: 88%) compare to scintigraphy (sensitivity: 64%) for the diagnosis of adrenal adenoma. However, the scintigraphy was a useful tool to detect asymmetric macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. Therefore, the catheterisation of adrenal venous would be only necessary for a few cases. We conclude from this study and the literature review that CT scan and iodomethyl-norcholesterol scintigraphy are complementary and both useful to increase diagnostic reliability of primary aldosteronism.

MeSH terms

  • 19-Iodocholesterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Glands / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / diagnostic imaging
  • Hyperaldosteronism / etiology*
  • Hyperplasia
  • Iodine Radioisotopes*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • 19-Iodocholesterol
  • 6-iodomethylcholesterol