PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM: PREOPERATIVE TUMOR VISUALIZATION BY SCINTILLATION SCANNING

Abstract

A patient with hypokalemic primary aldosteronism, in whom a left adrenal tumor had been visualized by selective adrenal venography, was given an intravenous tracer dose of 131-I-19. iodocholesterol. By means of an Anger camera, aided by a computer, increased radioactivity at the site of the tumor has been visualized and increased unilateral uptake of radioactivity has been established. The position of the tumor was confirmed surgically. The method may prove to be valuable in the preoperative determination of the site of the characteristically small aldosterone-producing tumor.