Integrated Imaging Characterization of Adrenal Adenoma: False-Positive Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) Findings of Adrenal Scintigraphy

Pol J Radiol. 2017 Aug 4:82:422-425. doi: 10.12659/PJR.901853. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Background: Evaluation of a patient with melanoma in whom an adrenal mass was detected on CT and MR during follow-up and further characterized with PET-CT and MIBG scintigraphy.

Case report: In this case report, we describe a patient with melanoma in whom an adrenal mass was detected on CT and MRI during post-surgical follow-up and was further characterized with radionuclide studies consisting of PET-CT and MIBG scintigraphy. Although the results of imaging studies suggested that the mass was a pheochromocytoma, a cortical adrenal adenoma was histologically proven.

Conclusions: Integrated structural and functional imaging is recommended to characterize adrenal tumors; however, mistakes may occur and therefore careful imaging evaluation is required.

Keywords: 3-Iodobenzylguanidine; Adrenal Cortex; Adrenocortical Adenoma; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pheochromocytoma; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports