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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
Management of suspected adrenal metastases at 2 academic medical centers
Jason A Glenn1, Colleen M Kiernan2, Tina W F Yen1
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Background:
The optimal management of suspected adrenal metastases remains controversial.
Methods:
This is a retrospective bi-institutional review of 37 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for suspected adrenal metastasis between 2001 and 2014.
Results:
Three (8%) patients had benign adenomas on final pathology. At a median follow-up of 21 months, 7 (32%) patients were alive with no evidence of disease and 7 (32%) were alive with recurrent disease. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 8 months; decreased RFS was associated with positive margins and size ≥6 cm. Overall survival (OS) was 29 months; decreased OS was associated with capsular disruption. There were no differences in RFS or OS by surgical approach.
Conclusions:
The favorable OS supports adrenalectomy in select patients with suspected adrenal metastases. Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is safe and effective, but the surgical approach should be based on the ability to achieve a margin-negative resection with avoidance of capsular disruption.
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