[Study on multiple aldosterone-producing adenomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the experience on diagnosis and treatment of multiple adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA).


METHODS
Eighteen cases of multiple adrenal APA were analyzed retrospectively, which were admitted from October 1992 to April 2006.


RESULTS
Adrenalectomy was performed for 4 cases of unilateral synchronous multiple APA, which were discovered with three adenomas by 3D-CT; bilateral tumor resection was performed for 6 cases of bilateral synchronous multiple APA. There were 8 cases of bilateral metachronous multiple APA, including 2 cases of ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA after adrenal tumor removal, which underwent tumor resection. Another 6 cases were contralateral APA following adrenalectomy due to adrenal APA, and underwent tumor resection. After operation, the adrenal function seemed to be normal, and no recurrence had been found on follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Unilateral multiple synchronous APA require adrenalectomy. Tumor resection should be performed for bilateral or asynchronous APA, and it is very important to preserve healthy adrenal tissue as much as possible. 3D-CT has much value on diagnosis of small APA, unilateral multiple synchronous APA and ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA.
Yu
Xiu-Yue
XY
Department of Urology, First Clinical Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Kong
Chui-Ze
CZ
Li
Zhen-Hua
ZH
Sun
Zhi-Xi
ZX
Li
Ze-Liang
ZL
Bi
Jian-Bin
JB
Gong
Da-Xin
DX
D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000450:Aldosterone