Biomaterial Database

[Nuclear medicine diagnosis of adrenal gland diseases]. 1993

M Fischer, and H Löhmer

Institut für Nuklearmedizin, Städtischen Kliniken, Kassel.

Localization procedures are required in adrenal diseases after biochemical confirmation of hormonal excess. Whereas computed tomography, ultrasound and--in rare cases--also magnetic resonance are needed to image the morphological abnormalities and the anatomy of neighbouring structures, adrenocortical and adrenomedullary scintigraphy is dependent on a functioning adrenal gland. Adrenocortical scintigraphy has the advantage of being able to differentiate between unilateral adenoma and bilateral hyperplasia in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. It is of minor significance in patients with Cushing's syndrome or hyperandrogenism. In patients with catecholamine-producing tumours scintigraphy with radioiodine-labelled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) may detect intra- and extra-adrenal, uni- and bilateral or multilocular, benign and malignant lesions. In patients with malignant but inoperable phaeochromocytoma, therapy with high doses of MIBG may improve clinical symptoms and reduce tumour volume.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010673	Pheochromocytoma	A usually benign, well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the ADRENAL MEDULLA or sympathetic paraganglia. The cardinal symptom, reflecting the increased secretion of EPINEPHRINE and NOREPINEPHRINE, is HYPERTENSION, which may be persistent or intermittent. During severe attacks, there may be HEADACHE; SWEATING, palpitation, apprehension, TREMOR; PALLOR or FLUSHING of the face, NAUSEA and VOMITING, pain in the CHEST and ABDOMEN, and paresthesias of the extremities. The incidence of malignancy is as low as 5% but the pathologic distinction between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas is not clear. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1298)	Pheochromocytoma, Extra-Adrenal,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytoma,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytoma, Extra Adrenal,Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytomas, Extra-Adrenal
D011877	Radionuclide Imaging	The production of an image obtained by cameras that detect the radioactive emissions of an injected radionuclide as it has distributed differentially throughout tissues in the body. The image obtained from a moving detector is called a scan, while the image obtained from a stationary camera device is called a scintiphotograph.	Gamma Camera Imaging,Radioisotope Scanning,Scanning, Radioisotope,Scintigraphy,Scintiphotography,Imaging, Gamma Camera,Imaging, Radionuclide
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000307	Adrenal Gland Diseases	Pathological processes of the ADRENAL GLANDS.	Adrenal Gland Disease,Disease, Adrenal Gland,Diseases, Adrenal Gland,Gland Disease, Adrenal,Gland Diseases, Adrenal
D000308	Adrenocortical Hyperfunction	Excess production of ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES such as ALDOSTERONE; HYDROCORTISONE; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; and/or ANDROSTENEDIONE. Hyperadrenal syndromes include CUSHING SYNDROME; HYPERALDOSTERONISM; and VIRILISM.	Hyperadrenocorticism,Hypercorticism,Adrenal Gland Hyperfunction,Hyperadrenalism,Hyperfunction, Adrenal Gland,Hyperfunction, Adrenocortical
D000310	Adrenal Gland Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the ADRENAL GLANDS.	Adrenal Cancer,Adrenal Gland Cancer,Adrenal Neoplasm,Cancer of the Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal Gland,Adrenal Cancers,Adrenal Gland Cancers,Adrenal Gland Neoplasm,Adrenal Neoplasms,Cancer, Adrenal,Cancer, Adrenal Gland,Cancers, Adrenal,Cancers, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasm, Adrenal,Neoplasm, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal