Adrenocortical SPECT using iodine-131 NP-59

J Nucl Med. 1998 Aug;39(8):1460-3.

Abstract

Adrenal scintigraphy with 131I-labeled 6-beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NP-59) is a technically demanding and complex procedure. However, it can provide crucial and unique information about the functional status of the adrenal glands and guide the appropriate therapeutic management of patients with biochemically proven disease. Since the introduction of this new investigational drug, scintigraphic imaging has been performed using conventional planar techniques. We present an interesting case of primary aldosteronism in which planar scintigraphy and SPECT were combined in an attempt to increase the sensitivity of the study. SPECT revealed scintigraphic evidence of bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia. Interestingly, the CT scan of this patient showed only an equivocal abnormality in the left adrenal gland, suggestive of an adenoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adosterol*
  • Adrenal Glands / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hyperaldosteronism / etiology
  • Hyperplasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Iodine Radioisotopes*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Adosterol