Hazards of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Conn's adenoma. When enthusiasm turns to tragedy.
A 74-year-old man with primary aldosteronism had a small tumor (27 x 23 mm) of his right adrenal gland successfully removed by a transperitoneal laparoscopy. Despite absence of malignancy in the resected tumor and complete relief of all symptoms in the immediate postoperative period, recurrence occurred 6 months later. The tumor behaved as a carcinoma spread in the peritoneal cavity, and the patient eventually died with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We suggest that the laparoscopic technique coupled with pneumoperitoneum may have favored this recurrence.
Foxius
A
A
Department of Endocrine Surgery, Saint-Luc Hospital, University of Louvain Medical School, Hippocrate Ave 10-B-1200, Brussels, Belgium.
Ramboux
A
A
Lefebvre
Y
Y
Broze
B
B
Hamels
J
J
Squifflet
J
J
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000150:complications; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed