Adrenal scintigraphy. [/sup 131/I tracer techniques]

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-2998(78)80005-1· OSTI ID:5112987

Thrall, J H; Freitas, J E; Beierwaltes, W H

Adrenal scintigraphy has been clinically feasible since the development of /sup 131/I-19-iodocholesterol in 1970. This agent has been supplanted by the current agent of choice, 6-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol. Patients receive Lugol's iodine to block the thyroid gland and receive 1 to 2 mCi of radiocholesterol intravenously. Imaging is accomplished 4 to 7 days postinjection with the gamma camera. Adrenal percent uptake determinations similar to thyroid uptakes may be accomplished with the aid of a digital computer and standard percent uptake curves derived from phantom studies. Adrenal suppression scans were developed to enhance differences between the normal and abnormal adrenal cortex in certain clinical conditions. Patients receive dexamethasone prior to radiotracer injection, and serial scans beginning 2 to 3 days postinjection are obtained. In the normal adrenal scintigram, the right adrenal gland is higher than the left and appears slightly hotter. The left adrenal has an oval configuration, while the right adrenal has a truncated or circular configuration in most subjects. Knowledge of the patient's clinical hormonal status is necessary for proper scintigraphic interpretation. With documented glucocorticoid excess, symmetrical visualization is due to adrenal hyperplasia, usually secondary to Cushing's disease. Unilateral visualization indicates the presence of an adenoma or a postsurgical adrenal remnant; and bilateral nonvisualization is typically due to carcinoma. On dexamethasone suppression scans in primary aldosteronism and adrenal androgenism, adenomas demonstrate unilateral or markedly asymmetrical uptake. Patients with micro- and macronodular hyperplasia typically demonstrate bilateral breakthrough in contrast to normal subjects in whom there should be no visualization while on dexamethasone suppression.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 5112987
• Journal Information: Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 8:1; ISSN SMNMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ADRENAL GLANDS
ADRENAL HORMONES
ALDEHYDES
ALDOSTERONE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
COMPUTERS
CORTICOSTEROIDS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEXAMETHASONE
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KETONES
MINERALOCORTICOIDS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PREGNANES
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS