Adrenal cortical imaging with I-131 NP-59 SPECT-CT.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to present our initial experience with hypersecretory adrenal syndromes investigated with radioiodinated I-6-B-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NP-59) and SPECT-CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Illustrative cases are presented of patients being investigated for adrenal hypersecretory syndromes, with or without adrenal nodules, using NP-59 scintigraphy with SPECT-CT imaging, representing a spectrum of diagnoses. Clinical and imaging data are reviewed to evaluate whether additional information derived from near-simultaneous anatomic localization aids study interpretation.

RESULTS

The final diagnoses reached are hyperfunctional and nonfunctioning adrenal nodules, physiological bowel activity, and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. SPECT-CT assisted study interpretation by localizing focal uptake to the adrenal glands, allowing direct assessment of function within adrenal nodules, and distinguishing physiological bowel activity from adrenal uptake. SPECT-CT provided additional information to planar and SPECT imaging, which improved confidence of study interpretation.

CONCLUSION

Utilization of SPECT-CT with NP-59 scintigraphy allows precise localization of the functional activity to anatomic structures improving diagnostic interpretation.