title: Experience of retroperitoneal laparoscopic treatment on pheochromocytoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection for pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 131 cases of pheochromocytoma were analyzed retrospectively. There were 69 males and 62 females with an age range of 8 to 77 years, including 120 cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma and 11 extraadrenal pheochromocytomas. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection was performed in all cases. We divided our practical experience into three stages: (1) the tentative and exploratory stage, (2) the accumulative stage, and (3) the mature stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the tentative and exploratory stage, 10 patients underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. The mean diameter of the tumor was 4.2 cm. The mean operation time was 105 minutes, and the median volume of blood loss during surgery was 450 mL. During the accumulative stage, the mean tumor diameter of the 72 cases was 5.6 cm. The mean operation time was 85 minutes and median volume of blood loss was 140 mL. During the mature stage, the mean tumor diameter of the 49 cases (including 11 extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma patients) was 6.7 cm. The mean operation time was 75 minutes and median volume of blood loss was 70 mL. Follow-ups ranging from 1 to 70 months were conducted, with three cases recurring. There were no cases of distant metastases or death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma is feasible and safe. This procedure will be increasingly performed as medical personnel continue to develop their skills and accumulate experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hanzhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weigang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Zhengpei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yuguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult