Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Radiofrequency Ablation in Primary Aldosteronism

Haukeland University Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma; Primary Aldosteronism; Hypercortisolism

Treatments: Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in MACS with bilateral overproduction, "debulking group; Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in MACS with AVS-verified left lateralisation; Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in PA with AVS-verified left lateralisation; Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in PA, "debulking group"

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05368090

422376

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study, the investigators will perform endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) treatment of left-sided adrenal tumours in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). Four different study groups will all receive EUS-RFA of left-sided adrenal tumours. Clinical and biochemical outcome as well as procedural safety will be evaluated. In study patients with verified lateralised aldosterone or cortisol overproduction to the left adrenal, outcome will be compared with control groups performing conventional unilateral adrenalectomy.

Study group 1: PA patients with AVS-verified left sided lateralisation and a EUS-detectable tumour in the left adrenal for EUS-RFA treatment.

Study group 2: PA patient with suspected left-sided overweight of aldosterone production and a EUS-detectable tumour but without strict lateralisation of their aldosterone overproduction, for EUS-RFA treatment as an aldosterone "debulking" procedure.

Study group 3: patients with MACS with AVS-verified lateralisation of cortisol overproduction to the left adrenal and EUS-detectable tumour for EUS-RFA treatment Study group 4: patients with MACS with bilateral adrenal tumours and verified bilateral overproduction of cortisol for EUS-RFA treatment as a cortisol "debulking" procedure.

Full description

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension, and is associated with worse cardiovascular outcome than primary hypertension. Early diagnosis and treatment is paramount to avoid excess morbidity and death. The two main forms of PA are unilateral PA, often caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), and bilateral PA. Differentiation between unilateral and bilateral disease determines treatment options. Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the recommended procedure to determine PA subtype, unilateral or bilateral. For unilateral PA surgery with unilateral adrenalectomy is recommended treatment. For PA without fulfilling lateralisation criteria, life-long medical treatment is recommended.

Mild autonomous cortisol production (MACS) is present in 20-30% of all adrenal incidentalomas, and is associated with the metabolic syndrome (hypertension, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis). Therefore these patients carry increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Optimal treatment is debated, and based on the degree of MACS, degree of metabolic complications, and the patient's own opinion. Unilateral adrenalectomy is an option if the overproduction is unilateral, but in 15 % of cases, the overproduction is bilateral, and treatment strategy even more troublesome.

The left adrenal is situated in near proximity to the stomach and is easily reached by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and may be targeted for RFA, treating an aldosterone- or cortisol-producing tumour only, and spearing the remaining adrenal. In this study we introduce EUS-RFA as a new treatment option in the following patient groups:

Study group 1: PA patients with AVS-verified left sided lateralisation and a EUS-detectable tumour in the left adrenal for EUS-RFA treatment.

Study group 2: PA patient with suspected left-sided overweight of aldosterone production and a EUS-detectable tumour but without strict lateralisation of their aldosterone overproduction, for EUS-RFA treatment as an aldosterone "debulking" procedure.

Study group 3: patients with MACS with AVS-verified lateralisation of cortisol overproduction to the left adrenal and EUS-detectable tumour for EUS-RFA treatment Study group 4: patients with MACS with bilateral adrenal tumours and verified bilateral overproduction of cortisol for EUS-RFA treatment, as a cortisol "debulking" procedure.

For all study groups, if CT scan shows an adrenal nodule to the left adrenal, nodule size must be < 40 mm and enhancement value must fulfill criteria for a benign adenoma. Patients consenting to the EUS-RFA will have a EUS performed. If EUS of the left adrenal identifies an adrenal nodule, a fine needle tissue sampling will be performed. Thereafter EUS-guided RFA procedure of the tumour will be performed. After RFA treatment, the fine needle tissue sampling will undergo morphological and functional characterisation, including application of specific imaging mass cytometry for detection of aldosterone- or cortisol producing cells.

Clinical and biochemical outcome after EUS-RFA will be evaluated by the international PASO-criteria (PA) or ENSAT/ECE criteria (MACS). In patients with lateralised PA or lateralised MACS, clinical and biochemical outcome and postoperative hypoaldosteronism or hypocortisolism will be compared with conventional unilateral adrenalectomy. Inn all patients, procedural safety will be evaluated.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria all groups

• Signed written informed consent
• If CT scan shows an adrenal nodule to the same adrenal as AVS lateralisation result: nodule size < 4 cm and enhancement criteria for adrenal adenoma (native hounsfield units < 10 or relative wash-out > 40% or absolute wash-out > 60%)

PA unilateral group inclusion criteria:

• Age 18 to 60 years
• PA diagnosis confirmed according to Endocrine Society PA Guideline criteria
• AVS lateralisation to left adrenal (lateralisation index ≥ 4,0)

PA "debulking" group inclusion criteria:

• Age 18 to 70 years
• PA diagnosis confirmed according to Endocrine Society PA Guideline criteria

MACS unilateral and debulking group inclusion criteria:

• Age 18 to 80 years
• MACS diagnosis confirmed according to ENSAT/ECE Guideline criteria
• AVS lateralisation to the left adrenal, and visible left adrenal tumor on CT scan OR bilateral overproduction of cortisol on AVS, and bilateral tumors/hyperplasia on CT scan (debulking)

Exclusion Criteria all groups:

• CT scan suspicion of adrenal malignancy
• Patient refusal to undergo either EUS-RFA or adrenalectomy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

60 participants in 4 patient groups

EUS-RFA of PA with AVS-verified left lateralisation

Experimental group

Description:

PA patients with AVS-confirmed lateralisation to the left adrenal and signed study consent will be included in this study group. EUS will be performed. If EUS identifies an adrenal nodule in the left adrenal, EUS-guided fine needle tissue sampling of the adenoma will be performed, before a subsequent EUS-RFA treatment procedure will be performed. Follow-up after 2 weeks, 3 months and 12 months for evaluation of clinical and biochemical outcome, and procedural complications.

Treatment:

Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in PA with AVS-verified left lateralisation

EUS-RFA of PA without verified left lateralisation, for aldosterone "debulking"

Experimental group

Description:

PA patients with suspicion of aldosterone overproduction in their left adrenal, but without fulfilling the strict AVS lateralization criteria, either due to a non-representative AVS, or a representative AVS but without significant left-sided lateralization (LI \< 4), and where the study investigators consider EUS-RFA treatment as an aldosterone-reducing procedure to be of high potential clinical and biochemical benefit for the patient, will be included in this study group after signed consent. EUS will be performed. If EUS identifies an adrenal nodule in the left adrenal, an EUS-guided fine needle tissue sampling of the adenoma will be performed, before a subsequent EUS-RFA treatment procedure. Follow-up after 2 weeks, 3 months and 12 months for evaluation of clinical and biochemical outcome, and procedural complications.

Treatment:

Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in PA, "debulking group"

EUS-RFA of MACS with left lateralisation and left adrenal tumour

Experimental group

Description:

MACS patients with AVS-confirmed lateralisation the left adrenal gland and CT showing left-sided tumour will be included in this study group after signed consent. EUS will be performed, and a EUS-guided fine needle tissue sampling of the adenoma will be performed, before a subsequent EUS-RFA treatment procedure. Follow-up after 2 weeks, 3 months and 12 months for evaluation of clinical and biochemical outcome, and procedural complications.

Treatment:

Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in MACS with AVS-verified left lateralisation

EUS-RFA of MACS with bilateral cortisol overproduction and bilateral tumours

Experimental group

Description:

MACS patients with AVS-confirmed bilateral cortisol overproduction and bilateral tumours will be included in this study group after signed study consent. EUS will be performed, and EUS-guided fine needle tissue sampling of the adenoma will be performed, before a subsequent EUS-RFA treatment procedure. Follow-up after 2 weeks, 3 months and 12 months for evaluation of clinical and biochemical outcome, and procedural complications.

Treatment:

Procedure: EUS-RFA of left adrenal tumour in MACS with bilateral overproduction, "debulking group