Abstract
The retroperitoneoscopic approach is a standardized operative procedure for primary adrenal gland tumors. It allows direct access with a detailed view of the adrenal gland. Thereby, a clear differentiation between normal and neoplastic adrenal tissue is often possible, which permits a planned partial resection of the gland in selected cases. Between July 1994 and November 2003 325 posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies were performed for primary benign adrenal gland tumors (106 Conn’s adenomas, 83 pheochromocytomas, 76 Cushing’s adenomas, 60 nonfunctioning tumors; size: 2.8 ± 1.5 cm; site: 160 right, 165 left) in 318 patients (122 M, 196 F, age: 49.0 ± 14.3 years). In 96 patients 100 tumors were removed by partial adrenalectomy (30 Conn’s adenomas, 33 pheochromocytomas, 20 Cushing’s adenomas, 17 nonfunctioning tumors; site: 61 right, 59 left) maintaining tumor-free parts of the adrenal gland. Of this group, 15 patients suffered from bilateral adrenal neoplastic diseases. During the same period, 225 total adrenalectomies (76 Conn’s adenomas, 50 pheochromocytomas, 56 Cushing’s adenomas, 34 nonfunctioning tumors; site: 109 right, 116 left) were performed in 224 patients. There was no mortality. Major complications were seen in 1.8%, minor complications in 14.5%. Three conversions were necessary to an open or a laparoscopic approach (2 patients and 1 patient, respectively). There are no differences between the two groups (total versus partial adrenalectomy) with regard to tumor size (2.8 ± 1.6 cm versus 2.8 ± 1.5 cm), operating time (80 ± 44 minutes versus 79 ± 42 minutes), and blood loss (33 ± 71 ml versus 29 ± 31 ml). In all patients with partial adrenalectomy, biochemical healing was proven. Fourteen of 15 patients with bilateral diseases had preservation of adrenocortical function. After a mean follow up of 51 months (range: 7–120 months) local recurrence or relapse of the initial diseases was noticed in 6 patients after total adrenalectomy: in 4 patients with Conn’s syndrome and bilateral hyperplasia, and in 2 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical carcinoma, respectively. Our data demonstrate that partial adrenalectomy is a safe procedure not only perioperatively but also in the long-term follow-up.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
GL Irvin LM Fishman JA Sher (1983) ArticleTitleFamilial pheochromocytoma Surgery 94 938–940 Occurrence Handle6648808
MK Walz K Peitgen R Hoermann et al. (1996) ArticleTitlePosterior retroperitoneoscopy as a new minimally invasive approach for adrenalectomy: results of 30 adrenalectomies in 27 patients World J. Surg. 20 769–774 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002689900117 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH38jit1U%3D Occurrence Handle8678949
G Janetschek G Finkenstedt R Gasser et al. (1998) ArticleTitleLaparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma: adrenalectomy, partial resection, excision of paragangliomas J. Urol. 160 330–334 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005392-199808000-00008 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czktlCltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9679871
SE Pautler PL Choyke CP Pavlovich et al. (2002) ArticleTitleIntraoperative ultrasound aids in dissection during laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy J. Urol. 168 1352–1355 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005392-200210010-00011 Occurrence Handle12352391
KY Kok SK Yapp (2002) ArticleTitleLaparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery for primary hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma Surg. Endosc. 16 108–111 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00464-001-8127-5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD383isFCqsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11961617
Y Ikeda H Takami Y Sasaki et al. (2003) ArticleTitleIs laparoscopic partial or cortical-sparing adrenalectomy worthwhile? Eur. Surg. 35 89–92 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1682-4016.2003.03026.x
I Sasagawa Y Suzuki K Itoh et al. (2003) ArticleTitlePosterior retroperitoneoscopic partial adrenalectomy: clinical experience in 47 procedures Eur. Urol. 43 381–385 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0302-2838(03)00087-3 Occurrence Handle12667719
K Jeschke G Janetschek R Peschel et al. (2003) ArticleTitleLaparoscopic partial adrenalectomy in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas: indications, technique, and results Urology 61 69–72 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0090-4295(02)02240-9 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2FltFWksQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12559268
P Meria BF Kempf JF Hermieu et al. (2003) ArticleTitleLaparoscopic management of primary hyperaldosteronism: clinical experience with 212 cases J. Urol. 169 32–35 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005392-200301000-00008 Occurrence Handle12478096
MK Walz K Peitgen B Saller et al. (1998) ArticleTitleSubtotal adrenalectomy by the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach World J. Surg. 22 621–626 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002689900444 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3mtVahuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9597938
MK Walz K Peitgen MV Walz et al. (2001) ArticleTitlePosterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: lessons learned within five years World J. Surg. 25 728–734 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00268-001-0023-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzntlCqtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11376407
MK Walz K Peitgen U Krause et al. (1995) ArticleTitleDie dorsale retroperitoneoskopische Adrenalektomie - eine neue operative Methode Zentralbl. Chir. 120 53–58 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC1MzjvFE%3D Occurrence Handle7887040
MK Walz KA Metz A Hellinger et al. (1997) ArticleTitleDie Chirurgie primôrer unilateraler Nebennierentumoren - Ergebnisse von 154 Patienten Zentralbl. Chir. 122 481–486 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiA1cblvVI%3D Occurrence Handle9334117
JF Henry T Defechereux M Raffaelli et al. (2000) ArticleTitleComplications of laparoscopic adrenalectomy: results of 169 consecutive procedures World J. Surg. 24 1342–1346 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002680010222 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FlslKgsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11038204
AE Siperstein E Berber KL Engle et al. (2000) ArticleTitleLaparoscopic posterior adrenalectomy: technical considerations Arch. Surg. 135 967–971 Occurrence Handle10.1001/archsurg.135.8.967 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvhs12rtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10922260
A Pisanu M Jafari F Pattou et al. (2001) ArticleTitleIndications for adrenalectomy in the laparoscopic era G. Chir. 22 101–106
G Prager G Heinz-Peer C Passler et al. (2002) ArticleTitleCan dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with chemical shift studies predict the status of adrenal masses? World J. Surg. 26 958–964 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00268-002-6625-9 Occurrence Handle12016475
M Brauckhoff K Kaczirek PN Thanh et al. (2003) ArticleTitleTechnical aspects of subtotal endoscopic adrenalectomy Eur. Surg. 35 84–88 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000069132
M Brauckhoff P Nguyen Thanh A Bar et al. (2003) ArticleTitleSubtotal bilateral adrenalectomy preserving adrenocortical function Chirurg 74 646–651 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00104-002-0608-0 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3szltVGlsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12883792
JA Carney GW Sizemore SG Sheps (1976) ArticleTitleAdrenal medullary disease in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2. Pheochromocytoma and its precursers Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 66 279–290 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSmB2M%2Fhs1M%3D Occurrence Handle949038
AH Chevinsky JP Minton JM Falko (1990) ArticleTitleMetastatic pheochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type II Arch. Surg. 125 935–938 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BA3MvnvVw%3D Occurrence Handle1695090
C Proye M Vix A Goropoulos et al. (1992) ArticleTitleLe pheochromocytome tumeur benigne intra-surrenalienne sporadique hypertensive unilaterale existe-t-il? Reflexions sur une serie de 105 tumeurs chromaffines sous-diaphragmatiques operees Chirurgie 118 433–438 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuC28zptlI%3D Occurrence Handle1343986
JA Heerden Particlevan GW Sizemore JA Carney et al. (1984) ArticleTitleSurgical management of the adrenal glands in the multiple endocrine neoplasia type II syndrome World J. Surg. 8 612–621 Occurrence Handle6148811
TC Lairmore DW Ball SB Baylin et al. (1993) ArticleTitleManagement of pheochromocytomas in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndromes Ann. Surg. 217 595–601 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyB1c3ntVw%3D Occurrence Handle8099474
S Tibblin J-F Dymling S Ingemansson et al. (1983) ArticleTitleUnilateral versus bilateral adrenalectomy in multiple endocrine neoplasia IIA World J. Surg. 7 201–208 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyB2M7hslQ%3D Occurrence Handle6135282
WB Inabnet P Caragliano D Pertsemlidis (2000) ArticleTitlePheochromocytoma: inherited associations, bilaterality, and cortex preservation Surgery 128 1007–1011 Occurrence Handle10.1067/msy.2000.110846 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FnsFehsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11114636
JE Lee SA Curley RF Gagel et al. (1996) ArticleTitleCortical-sparing adrenalectomy for patients with bilateral pheochromocytoma Surgery 120 1064–1070 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiC3MnktVw%3D Occurrence Handle8957496
T Nakada Y Kubota I Sasagawa et al. (1995) ArticleTitleTherapeutic outcome of primary aldosteronism: adrenalectomy versus enucleation of aldosterone-producing adenoma J. Urol. 153 1775–1780 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005392-199506000-00004 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB2s7nsVM%3D Occurrence Handle7752314
V Fendrich A Ramaswamy C Nies (2003) ArticleTitleHyperaldosteronism persisting after subtotal adrenalectomy Chirurg 74 473–477 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00104-003-0622-x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s3is1Ggsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12748796
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walz, M., Peitgen, K., Diesing, D. et al. Partial versus Total Adrenalectomy by the Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Approach: Early and Long-term Results of 325 Consecutive Procedures in Primary Adrenal Neoplasias. World J. Surg. 28, 1323–1329 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-004-7667-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-004-7667-y