Premium
Role of laparoscopy in the management of adrenal malignancies
Author(s) -
Lombardi Celestino Pio,
Raffaelli Marco,
De Crea Carmela,
Bellantone Rocco
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.20599
Subject(s) - medicine , adrenocortical carcinoma , malignancy , laparoscopy , pheochromocytoma , adrenalectomy , surgery , dissection (medical) , medical record , general surgery , radiology
Background and Objectives The role of laparoscopic approach for the treatment of malignant adrenal diseases is still controversial. The aim of this study was to verify the results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) in the management of adrenal malignancies. Methods The medical records of all the patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures for adrenal diseases and in whom malignancy was demonstrated at final histology were reviewed. Results Nine patients were included (three malignant pheochromocytomas, four adrenocortical carcinomas, and two adrenal metastases). At a mean follow‐up of 23.0 months, all but two patients were alive. One patient died for metastatic disease and the other one for unrelated causes. One patient operated on for an adrenocortical carcinoma developed a pelvic recurrence. One patient operated on for a malignant pheochromocytoma developed multiple intra‐abdominal recurrences. No other case of recurrence was observed. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that LA can have a role also in case of adrenal malignancies. Conversion to open surgery is mandatory in case of local invasion and when the dissection cannot be as accurate as in conventional operations. A preliminary laparoscopic exploration can be planned in case of suspected malignant lesions to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate their operability. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:128–131. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.