What conditions might benefit from an adrenal scan?

An adrenal scan is particularly useful for the localization of pheochromocytomas, which are tumors that arise from the adrenal medulla and secrete catecholamines. The adrenal scan, often conducted using imaging techniques such as a nuclear medicine scan or a computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast, can help identify the specific location of these tumors within the adrenal glands. This is essential for proper diagnosis and planning of surgical interventions, particularly given that pheochromocytomas can have significant cardiovascular implications due to the excess catecholamines.

Other options, such as the assessment of gallstones, diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, and evaluation of pulmonary embolism, relate to different organ systems and require different imaging modalities. Gallstones and acute cholecystitis are typically evaluated using abdominal ultrasound or CT scans, while pulmonary embolism is best assessed with a CT pulmonary angiogram or ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan. These conditions do not involve adrenal glands and therefore are not relevant to the purpose of an adrenal scan.