Surgical resection of adrenal metastasis from primary liver tumors: a report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Although the treatment of extrahepatic metastases from primary liver tumors is essentially palliative, solitary metastasis from such tumors offers a possibility of cure by surgical resection. The adrenal gland is an uncommon site for metastasis from primary liver tumors.


METHODS
We report two cases of adrenalectomy for solitary adrenal metastasis: one from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and the other from hepatocellular carcinoma.


RESULTS
The patient with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma had a synchronous adrenal metastasis and underwent simultaneous liver resection and adrenalectomy. However, he developed recurrent disease 17 months following surgery for which he is presently on palliative chemotherapy. The other patient underwent adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis 3 months following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. He is presently alive and disease-free 27 months after adrenalectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Carefully selected patients with solitary metastasis from primary liver tumors may be considered for resection.
Pandey
Durgatosh
D
Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India. durgatosh@yahoo.co.in
Tan
Kai-Chah
KC
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome