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Primary adrenal hypercortisolism: minimally invasive surgical treatment or medical therapy? A retrospective study with long-term follow-up evaluation

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Abstract

Background

Because the most suitable management of subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS, which involves hypersecretion of cortisol without clinically evident disease) still is undefined, the current study aimed to compare retrospectively the outcome for a cohort of patients treated by medical therapy or laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA).

Methods

Over a 12-year period, 47 patients with SCS have been treated by means of LA (19 patients, group A) or medical therapy (28 patients, group B). Group A consisted of 15 women and 4 men with a mean age of 54.8 years. Eight patients had a left adrenal mass, whereas nine had a right adrenal mass, and one patient had bilateral lesion. Group B was composed of 18 women and 10 men with a mean age of 57.8 years. Of these patients, 14 had a left adrenal lesion, 12 had a right adrenal lesion, and 1 had bilateral lesion. The patients were followed up for a mean 4 years (range, 1–11 years) by both an endocrinologist and a surgeon.

Results

In group A, hypertension improved for 66.3% of the patients; body mass index (BMI) decreased for 47.4%; and hyperlipidemia based on high-density lypoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol ratio, and triglyceridemic concentration improved for 63.2% of the patients. No changes in bone parameters were seen after surgery in SCS patients with osteoporosis. Some patients in group B, during their long-term medical therapy, experienced worsening hypertension (14.2%), hyperlipidemia (17.8%), and diabetes mellitus (8%).

Conclusions

This retrospective study focused on a cohort of patients with SCS. Their medium long-term follow-up evaluation showed that LA is better than medical therapy for treating this condition, especially by reducing the cardiovascular risk (hypertension-hyperlipidemia).

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Disclosures

Mario Guerrieri, Roberto Campagnacci, Andrea Patrizi, Chiara Romiti, Giorgio Arnaldi, and Marco Boscaro, have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica di Chirurgia Generale e Metodologia Chirurgica, Università Politecnica delle Marche-Ospedali Riuniti, via Conca 1, 60121, Ancona, Italy

    Mario Guerrieri, Roberto Campagnacci, Andrea Patrizi & Chiara Romiti

  2. Clinica di Endocrinologia, Università Politecnica delle Marche-Ospedali Riuniti, via Conca 1, 60121, Ancona, Italy

    Giorgio Arnaldi & Marco Boscaro

Authors
  1. Mario Guerrieri
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  2. Roberto Campagnacci
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  3. Andrea Patrizi
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  4. Chiara Romiti
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  5. Giorgio Arnaldi
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  6. Marco Boscaro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberto Campagnacci.

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Guerrieri, M., Campagnacci, R., Patrizi, A. et al. Primary adrenal hypercortisolism: minimally invasive surgical treatment or medical therapy? A retrospective study with long-term follow-up evaluation. Surg Endosc 24, 2542–2546 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1000-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1000-7

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