25 years experience of the surgical treatment of phaeochromocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of the surgical treatment of patients who had adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital, Germany.


METHODS
87 consecutive patients with phaeochromocytoma who were operated on.


METHODS
29 flank and 58 transabdominal adrenalectomies between 1974 and 2000.


RESULTS
The mean tumour diameter was 5 cm (range 2-13), and the mean weight 91 g (range 7-550). The postoperative hospital stay was 11 days. The flank incision entailed the shortest operating time (95 minutes). Two of the phaeochromocytomas were malignant. There were two wound infections but no deaths. With a correct selection of patients, a flank incision is safe. Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomies should be preferred.
Niemann
Ulf
U
Abt. Viszeral- und Thoraxchirurgie, Detmold, Germany.
Hiller
Wolfgang
W
Behrend
Matthias
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome