Adrenocortical scintigraphy with 131I-19-iodocholesterol

Scintigraphy was used in 66 patients with biochemically demonstrated hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex in order 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 tumours, and absent in 3 cases of large malignant tumours. 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 tumour. Scintigraphy appears to be of considerable value for locating adrenocortical lesions, especially small tumours