Preoperative Lateralisation of Aldosterone-Producing Tumours in Primary Aldosteronism

A technique based on measurement of aldosterone in peripheral and left-adrenal venous plasma is described for the preoperative lateralisation of aldosterone-producing adenomas of the adrenal. It has been used in conjunction with adrenal phlebography. The procedure has been evaluated in 11 patients with primary aldosteronism; 10 were predicted accurately, 7 having an adenoma on the left, and 3 on the right. In the one patient about whom a decision could not be made, bilateral adrenal adenomas were found at surgery.