[Diagnostic value of imaging in localizing primary aldosteronism].

From May 1985 to March 1993, 159 patients with primary aldosteronism were treated surgically. The results of localization of aldosteronomas by B-type ultrasonography, CT and scintigraphy in 103 were compared with pathological results. The accurate rate of the modalities was 80.6%, 75.8% and 67.4% respectively. As a routine, we usually employ sonography and CT for localizing aldosteronomas. Only when difficulty was encountered with these two methods, scintigraphy was added. In our series, an accurate rate of 96.1% was obtained in surgical explorations with these imaging examinations with a consideration of clinical data.