Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal carcinoma and metastases

This review article discusses topics concerned with laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal pathologies.

Over the past decade, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the operation of choice for the resection of adrenal tumors, and provides dramatically reduced morbidity associated with the operation. Although current laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastatic or primary adrenal malignancy is a feasible procedure, great care is required. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for these adrenal pathologies should be converted to open adrenalectomy or hand-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy for difficult dissection, invasion, adhesions or surgeon inexperience. In general, laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be performed with acceptable outcomes in carefully selected patients with small, organ-confined, solitary adrenal metastasis or primary adrenal carcinoma.

As surgical technique and complete resection are crucial to the success of the procedure, appropriate and careful judgment on the part of the surgeon is the most important factor in the care of a patient with such adrenal malignancies.