Adrenal venous sampling in the differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the value of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in the differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA).Methods Fourteen patients (11 adenoma and 3 adrenal hyperplasia) clinically diagnosed as PA were examined with AVS for measurement of plasma aldosterone and cortisol levels.Selectivity of AVS was assessed by the aldosterone level in each adrenal vein and in the infrarenal inferior vena cava plasma.The data were compared with CT and postoperative pathologic result.Results The diagnosis of adenoma by AVS in 9 (9/11) cases was in accordance with the postoperative pathologic findings.The diagnosis of hyperplasia by AVS in all 3 cases was in accordance with CT scanning result.Conclusion AVS should be selected to distinguish the PA without overt occupational lesion in CT scanning.