Severe hypertension in primary aldosteronism and good response to surgery

11 patients with primary aldosteronism have been encountered over 11 years and submitted to surgery in a provincial teaching hospital serving a population of 3 million. Contrary to classical teaching, the hypertension has usually been very severe. Precise identification of the site of the lesion preoperatively has been possible by the measurement of adrenal-vein aldosterone levels, and results of surgery have been excellent. The iodocholesterol adrenal scan also correctly identified the site of the adenoma in 5 out of 7 patients in which it was used. Adrenal venography was of little value except in siting catheters.