Functional results after endoscopic subtotal cortical-sparing adrenalectomy.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the required amount of residual adrenal tissue and whether an intact adrenal vein are necessary to achieve sufficient function after endoscopic subtotal adrenalectomy.


METHODS
Endoscopic subtotal adrenalectomy was performed in 14 patients. Two patients underwent unilateral subtotal and contralateral total adrenalectomy and another two patients underwent unilateral subtotal adrenalectomy after contralateral total adrenalectomy several years earlier. We analyzed the postoperative serum levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Patients with bilateral tumors underwent an ACTH test.


RESULTS
We had to cut the main adrenal vein in ten patients, and less than one third of the adrenal gland was left in situ in four patients. Subtotal adrenalectomy was performed unilaterally in two patients with bilateral tumors. One third of the adrenal gland was preserved in these patients, and also in the two patients with unilateral subtotal adrenalectomy after previous contralateral total adrenalectomy. The postoperative ACTH test confirmed satisfactory adrenocortical function. During the follow-up period of about 24 months no recurrent tumors have been found.


CONCLUSIONS
Subtotal cortical-sparing adrenalectomy can be successfully performed laparoscopically. The venous drainage of the main adrenal vein does not seem to be crucial for sufficient adrenocortical function. We estimate that leaving about one third of the entire adrenal gland as remnant adrenal tissue will result in sufficient function.
Department of General, Visceral, and Vascular Surgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle/Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Strasse 40, 06097 Halle/Saale, Germany.
Michael
M
Brauckhoff
Phuong Nguyen
PN
Thanh
Oliver
O
Gimm
Annett
A
Bär
Katrin
K
Brauckhoff
Henning
H
Dralle
D000302:Adrenal Cortex; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone