| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Adrenocortical scintigraphy has demonstrated clinical utility in the morpho-functional characterization of adrenal tumors. The aim of this study was to identify possible relationships between the scintigraphic pattern and endocrine and/or morphological data in a series of adrenocortical carcinomas. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (11 nonfunctioning and 10 hormone-secreting) were investigated with 75Se-methyl-nor-cholesterol scintigraphy. Clinical, hormonal, radiological, and pathological data were analyzed. RESULTS: The adrenal mass showed no radiocholesterol uptake in 18 cases (11 nonfunctioning and 7 functioning lesions). Contralateral normal adrenal gland was visualized in all patients with nonfunctioning tumors, whereas classic bilateral nonvisualization was observed in the 7 cases with hyperfunctioning masses. Three patients with cortisol-producing carcinomas showed radiotracer uptake by the mass, without visualization of the contralateral gland. At histology, the tumors were shown to be undifferentiated adrenocortical carcinomas; they had an aggressive clinical behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Radiocholesterol scintigraphy has an important role in diagnosing adrenocortical carcinomas, which typically are not visualized. However, 30% of hypersecreting adrenocortical carcinomas show an atypical increased tracer uptake, not predictive of the biochemical and histological features of the tumor. |
| Authors | L Barzon, P Zucchetta, M Boscaro, M C Marzola, F Bui, F Fallo
(Affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, University of Padova, Italy.)
|
| Journal | European journal of endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies
(Eur J Endocrinol)
Vol. 145
Issue 6
Pg. 743-8
(Dec 2001)
ISSN: 0804-4643 England |
| PMID | 11720899
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones
- Organoselenium Compounds
- Cholesterol
- 19-methyl-selenonorcholesterol
|
| Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones
(blood)
- Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms
(mortality, pathology, radionuclide imaging)
- Adult
- Aged
- Cholesterol
(analogs & derivatives, diagnostic use)
- Cushing Syndrome
(diagnosis)
- Female
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mitosis
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Neoplasm Staging
- Organoselenium Compounds
(diagnostic use)
- Survival Rate
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
|
