ADRENOCORTICAL SCINTIGRAPHY WITH I-131-19-IODOCHOLESTEROL - INDICATIONS AND RESULTS IN 66 CAS OF HYPERCORTISOLISM AND HYPER-ALDOSTERONISM

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 10  (6) , 395-399
Abstract
Scintigraphy was used in 66 patients with biochemically demonstrated hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex to determine the nature and site of the lesions. In cases of hypercortisolism, uptake was bilateral in 12 patients with Cushing''s disease, unilateral in 7 patients with malignant or non-malignant tumors, and absent in 3 cases of large malignant tumors. In cases of hyperaldosteronism, scintigraphy performed during dexamethasone-induced ACTH suppression showed distinctly asymmetrical uptake in 13 patients with Conn''s adenoma (confirmed by surgery as being on the good uptake side in 10 patients), symmetrical in 20 patients with biochemical findings indicating bilaterality, and intermediate in 9 patients. There was no false positive diagnosis of tumor. Scintigraphy appears to be of considerable value for locating adrenocortical lesions, especially small tumors.