Feasibility of iodine-131 6β-methyl-iodo-19 norcholesterol (Np-59) scintigraphy to complement adrenal venous sampling in management of primary aldosteronism: A case series

Abstract

Purpose: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is mainly comprised of aldosterone-producing adenoma and bilateral idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia. Current guidelines recommend adrenal venous sampling (AVS) as a gold standard method to classify the subtypes. However, because of technical challenges in AVS including invasiveness of AVS and a wide range of success rate for cannulation, it is not uncommon that appropriate decisions could not be made depending on AVS. The aim of this study is to elucidate the proper role of I-131-6β-iodomethyl-norcholesterol (NP-59) scintigraphy in management of PA. Patients and Methods: Between January 2009 and October 2018, patients with PA were retrospectively reviewed for the study. Five patients were included in the study who had NP-59 scintigraphy with non-conclusive AVS results or without AVS. We described the clinical outcome of patients in whom clinical decisions were made according to NP-59 scintigraphy results. Results: Patients in the presenting cases were diagnosed for PA. AVS, the most reliable test to identify unilateral APA, were not applicable because of hypersensitivity to contrast dye (patient 1), and use of antiplatelet agents after acute cerebral infarction (patient 2). NP-59 scintigraphy was performed in patients 3 and 4 whose result of AVS and CT scan were inconsistent. In patient 5, who had bilateral adrenal adenomas (two in the left and one in the right adrenal gland), both unsuccessful catheterization and coexistence of cortisol over-production made AVS results unreliable. Conclusion: Based on clinical outcomes of these case series, it is noticeable that NP-59 scintigraphy could play a substantial role in management of PA in selected cases.