title: Aldosteronoma.
abstract: Aldosteronoma is a surgically curable cause of hypertension. Recent studies have found aldosteronomas to be a more common cause of hypertension than previously thought. At least 2% of patients with hypertension may have an aldosteronoma. More than 50% of these patients are normokalemic because of earlier diagnosis or milder disease, but still benefit from adrenalectomy. Patients with hypertension should be screened for possible primary hyperaldosteronism regardless of their serum potassium level. When used in conjunction with the appropriate laboratory tests, high-resolution computerized tomography scanning helps the surgeon to differentiate accurately between an adrenal adenoma and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Focused approach and laparoscopic resection are the norm for the surgical treatment of aldosteronoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco/Mount Zion Medical Center, 94143-1674, USA.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunaud
authors.forename: Quan-Yang
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Duh
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology