A comparative study of the accuracy in locating adrenal lesions between CT, adrenal imaging and angiography

This study was undertaken to compare the accuracy in locating adrenal lesions between CT, adrenocortical imaging and angiography in a total of 30 cases of adrenal diseases; 15 of primary aldosteronism, 8 of pheochromocytoma (9 tumors), 4 of Cushing's syndrome and 3 of adrenogenital syndrome. The correct localization was obtained in 90%(27/30) in CT, 94%(29/31) in adrenocortical imaging, 100%(15/15) by arteriography and 90%(18/20) in venography. However the locating accuracy decreased to 83%(15/18) in arteriography and 67%(18/27) in venography when the technically failed cases were included. These results suggest that CT and adrenocortical imaging are sufficient to detect adrenal lesions in most cases. Ambiguous cases in these noninvasive methods may be the subjects for angiography. (author)