Utility of F-18 FDG-PET in detecting primary aldosteronism in patients with bilateral adrenal incidentalomas

J Korean Med Sci. 2013 Mar;28(3):489-92. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.3.489. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Abstract

In patients with primary aldosteronism who have bilateral adrenal incidentalomas, it is important to identify which adrenal gland is secreting excess aldosterone. Traditionally, adrenal vein sampling (AVS) has been performed for lateralization despite its invasiveness. Here we report a case of bilateral adrenal incidentaloma in which 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the functional adrenal mass. A 53-yr-old man was referred to our clinic due to bilateral adrenal incidentalomas (right: 1 cm, left: 2.5 cm) on computed tomography (CT). Given his history of colon cancer, FDG-PET/CT scanning was used to rule out metastasis. Although there was focal hot uptake lesion in the right adrenal gland, the patient was suspected primary aldosteronism clinically more than metastasis because of the patient's underlying hypertension with hypokalemia. It was consistent with the results of AVS. Based on these findings, we propose that FDG-PET/CT can be used instead of AVS to identify the source of primary aldosteronism between two bilateral adrenal incidentalomas.

Keywords: Bilateral Adrenal Incidentaloma; FDG-PET/CT; Primary Aldosteronism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Glands / pathology
  • Adrenal Glands / surgery
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / diagnosis*
  • Hyperaldosteronism / pathology
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Hypokalemia / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Supplementary concepts

  • Adrenal incidentaloma