title: Bilateral adrenalectomy for metastatic breast carcinoma.
abstract: Ninety-five patients who underwent bilateral adrenalectomy for metastatic breast carcinoma are reviewed. An objective remission of tumor was observed in 66% of the patients over the age of 45 years with metastasis limited to soft tissue, osseous, or pulmonary system. In those patients below the age of 45, only 19% had remission irrespective of the sites of metastasis. Thirty-three patients were admitted with no "free interval," with objective remission occuring in 42%. This observation indicates that the "free interval" is not as striking a determinant in selecting adrenalectomy candidates as had been stressed by others. The serial treatment of adrenalectomy followed by chemotherapy after adrenalectomy failure or relapse was shown to objectively benefit 74% of 72 patients evaluated. Sulfokinase activity in breast cancer tissue was studied in 17 patients. The results were not as definitive as reported by others.
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000628:therapy*; D002369:Castration; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010166:Palliative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014946:Wound Infection