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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
[Effects of adrenalectomy on the treatment of Cushing disease]
Bing Xing1, Nan Zhang, Zu-yuan Ren
1Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Objective:
To discuss the effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) on the treatment of Cushing's disease(CD).
Methods:
Clinical data of 15 cases of CD between January 1980 and December 2005 were analyzed to evaluate operative indications, complications and the changes of hypercortisolism and hormone levels pre- and post- adrenalectomy.
Results:
All the patients involved underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery previously. Repeated transsphenoidal surgery was performed in 4 cases. Pituitary radiotherapy was done in 4 cases. The average time from original transsphenoidal operation to ADX was 25.7 months. Pre- and post- adrenalectomy serum cortisol median level were 1156.4 nmol/L and 99.4 nmol/L, the 24 h urinary-free cortisol median level were 315.0 and 5.4 microg, respectively. Hormone replacement therapy was needed in all cases. Average follow-up period was 47 months (9-120 months). Nelson syndrome (NS) appeared in 5 cases (33.3%), while 10 cases showed no NS.
Conclusions:
ADX is an effective and symptomatic treatment to relieve hypercortisolism caused by CD but with the risk of NS. Longtime hormone replacement therapy and follow up are needed after ADX.
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