Adrenal-preserving laparoscopic surgery in selected patients with bilateral adrenal tumors

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Background There have been few reports of laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery for bilateral adrenal tumors. We review our experience with this type of surgery with the aim of evaluating its feasibility and safety. Methods Over a 4-year period, we treated 9 patients with bilateral benign adrenal tumors. Seven patients had bilateral pheochromocytomas (MEN 2: 5, VHL: 1, sporadic: 1), and 2 patients had Cushing's syndrome caused by bilateral adrenocortical adenomas. Laparoscopic procedures were performed by a flank approach. The mean diameter of the tumors was 3.7 cm (range, 2.0-8.5 cm). Results All the tumors were removed laparoscopically. Four patients with hereditary pheochromocytomas underwent bilateral total adrenalectomy because of the large tumor size and multiplicity. The other 5 patients were treated successfully with preservation of adrenocortical function. In 4 of these 5 patients, the adrenal tumors were 3 cm or less in diameter. None of the patients experienced surgical complications. At a mean follow-up of 16 months (range, 4-40 months), none of the 5 patients who were treated by adrenal-sparing surgery required corticosteroid replacement. Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery is feasible for the treatment of bilateral adrenal tumors. Adrenal-preserving laparoscopic surgery may be practicable for the removal of these tumors, if the tumor on either side is 3 cm or less in diameter; however, our follow up is short (mean, 16 months).