Laparoscopic resection of adrenal cortical carcinoma: a cautionary note.
BACKGROUND
While laparoscopic removal of small, benign, functioning adrenal tumors is accepted, laparoscopic resection of adrenal tumors that may be adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) remains controversial.


METHODS
The records of all patients with ACC evaluated at a single institution from 1991 through 2004 were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Among 170 patients with ACC, 153 patients underwent open anterior adrenalectomy, 6 underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy, 1 was treated via an open flank approach, and 10 had no operation. At a median follow-up of 28 months, 115 (86%) of 133 patients who had undergone open anterior resection of primary ACC had had a recurrence. Local recurrence and peritoneal carcinomatosis were components of initial failure in 46 (35%) and 11 patients (8%), respectively. In contrast, all 6 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection of ACC had recurrences, and peritoneal carcinomatosis was a component of initial failure in 5 (83%) of them (open vs laparoscopic resection, Fisher exact test P = .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic resection of ACC is associated with a high risk of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Open adrenalectomy remains the standard of care for patients presenting with an adrenal cortical tumor for which ACC is in the differential diagnosis.
Gonzalez
Ricardo J
RJ
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderso Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
Shapiro
Suzanne
S
Sarlis
Nicholas
N
Vassilopoulou-Sellin
Rena
R
Perrier
Nancy D
ND
Evans
Douglas B
DB
Lee
Jeffrey E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome