The role of parmacologic manipulation in adrenal cortical scintigraphy

Adrenal scintigraphy is a unique nuclear medicine procedure that provides noninvasive, functional information concerning the status of the adrenal cortex. The uptake of iodocholesterol, in addition to localizing adrenal cortical abnormalities, can be manipulate to focus on adrenal cortical dysfunction in either the aldosterone, cortisol, or androgenproducing portions of the adrenal cortex. The uptake of iodocholesterol correlates significantly with the abnormal secretion of cortisol in Cushing's syndrome, aldosterone in the model of adrenal zona glomerulosa function, and adrenal androgen secretion in hyperandorgenism. For these reasons, adrenal scintigraphy is an important diagnostic modality in the evaluation of adrenal cortical function.