Factors affecting the frequency of occurrence of spironolactone bodies in aldosteronomas and non-tumorous cortex

Histological sections taken from aldosterone-producing-adenomas and from non-tumorous adrenal cortex of 18 patients treated for primary aldosteronism by unilateral adrenalectomy were examined for spironolactone inclusion bodies. Typical inclusions were found in 10 of the 13 patients who received spironolactone up to within 24 h of surgery. They were present in the tumours of 7 patients, and their frequency correlated positively with the percentage of glomerulosa type cells in the tumours. In tumours containing 50% or more glomerulosa-type cells, their frequency correlated negatively with duration of treatment. They were present in the non-tumorous cortex of 4 of these 7 patients, and in the cortex of 3 others whose tumours did not contain them. In the cortex, they were found only in glomerulosa cells, and their presence appeared unrelated to dosage or duration of treatment. No spironolactone inclusion bodies were seen in either the tumour of the non-tumorous cortex of 3 patients who had discontinued spironolactone 19 to 97 d before surgery, or of 2 patients who had never received spironolactone.