Fortuitous imaging of a primary adrenocortical carcinoma with Tc-99m HDP

Clin Nucl Med. 1995 Oct;20(10):906-8. doi: 10.1097/00003072-199510000-00011.

Abstract

The importance of evaluating nonfunctional adrenal masses in the right clinical setting is discussed. A 60-year-old man was initially diagnosed of having a localized lung carcinoma. Metastatic work-up showed an adrenal mass that was not deemed to be related to the lung primary. Although biochemical testing revealed that the adrenal mass was nonfunctional, adrenal scintigraphy was not performed. On resection, the lung neoplasm was shown to be a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Radiologic follow-up of the adrenal finding was recommended. A year later, the patient presented with an abdominal mass that was visualized by bone scintigraphy and, on resection, proved to be adrenocortical carcinoma. In retrospect, the lung mass was a metastasis of an adrenocortical carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / analogs & derivatives*

Substances

  • technetium Tc 99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate