Adrenal vein sampling

Adrenal venography has essentially been replaced by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) as a method for detecting most adrenal masses. Nevertheless, catheterization of the adrenal veins remains a vital tool for obtaining blood for the localization of small aldosterone-producing adenomas. In addition, adrenal venous sampling is often necessary in patients with hyperaldosteronism to differentiate adenomas, bilateral hyperplasia, and automomous nodules in patients with bilateral findings (1). Finally, unilateral hyperplasia is a rare surgically correctable cause of hyperaldosteronism that may require adrenal venous sampling for accurate diagnosis (2).