BACKGROUND: Before partial adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism due to a primary adrenal adenoma, the aldosterone-producing tumor can be localized by segmental adrenal vein sampling (S-AVS). Cardiologists, who regularly perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or coronary angioplasty with stent, may not be familiar with the technique of S-AVS. A case of the use of S-AVS is reported in a patient who presented with primary aldosteronism and a right adrenal adenoma.

CASE REPORT: A 44-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented with a man in the posterior part of the right adrenal gland. He had hypokalemia, and a high plasma aldosterone concentration/plasma renin activity ratio. A captopril stress test confirmed the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. Pre-operative S-AVS was performed using a microwire and microcatheter, which were advanced into the segmental adrenal vein using a 6.5 French guiding catheter and a Y-shaped connector, under biplane cine angiography guidance. S-AVS showed a high plasma aldosterone concentration in the right superior tributary adrenal vein draining the adrenal mass. Right partial adrenalectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient’s blood pressure and plasma aldosterone levels normalized.

CONCLUSIONS: S-AVS can be performed relatively easily before partial adrenalectomy using a catheter system with biplane cine angiography, which is a technique that is familiar to cardiologists.

Keywords: Adenoma, Hyperaldosteronism, Hypertension, Sampling Studies, Adrenal Gland Neoplasms, Adrenocortical Adenoma, Aldosterone, Angiography, Blood Specimen Collection, catheters, Veins