title: [Our experience with adrenalectomy (1994-2000). Overall review].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thirty cases of adrenalectomy are presented. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of adrenal disease are reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over the last 6 years, 30 adrenalectomies were performed in 28 patients (20 females and 8 males) aged 16-83 years (mean age 51 years). The lesion was incidentally discovered in 18.5%, 33.3% presented abdominal or lumbar pain, 18.5% had Cushing's syndrome, 18.5% presented headache and hypertension, and 7.4% virilization. Diagnostic evaluation included laboratory studies, ultrasound and CT assessment. Scintigraphic localization with MIBG, MRI or arteriography was performed in specific cases. The flank approach was utilized in 53% of the cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative period ranged from 7-23 days (mean 11). Postoperative complications (38.4%) following adrenalectomy were splenectomy, hemorrhage, hypertensive episodes, vascular complications, wound infection and pneumonia. Fifty percent of the masses were pheochromocytomas, 10% carcinomas and 5% adenomas. The rest were two neural crest derived tumors, one calcified cyst, one myelolipoma and one metastatic renal carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of adrenal disease are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gómez Díaz
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: García-Sastre García
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivas del Fresno
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castaño González-Coto
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muruamendiaraz Fernández
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuervo Calvo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso Ordóñez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamargo Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged