Scintigraphy of hyperfunctioning adrenal tissue after total adrenalectomy.

The significance of scintigraphic examination in four patients with hyperfunction of adrenal tissue after total adrenalectomy is described. The scintigraphic examination was done 7--8 days after the injection of 1 mCi of 131I-19-iodocholesterol using the Jumbo Thoshiba 202 scintillation camera and Informatek SIMIS 3 data processing system. Noticeable concentration of 131I-19-iodocholesterol occurred in all four patients of, in three cases in the region of the right adrenal gland and in one case in the region of the left one. Scintigraphic examination confirmed the clinical hypothesis that of cushing's syndrome recurred in these patients because of hyperfunctioning adrenal tissue left in the body after the operation. This diagnosis was given confirmed in two cases undergoing repeated operations. The scintigraphic examination allowed accurate localization of the adrenal tissue and facilitated finding it during the next operation. The authors believe that adrenal scintigraphy is at the present time one of the best methods of locating the hyperfunctioning adrenal tissue left in the body during total adrenalectomy.