[Incidence of adrenal metastasis from renal carcinoma]

We analysed the cases of renal carcinoma undergoing operation or autopsy from 1970 to 1978 in respect of their metastasizing to the adrenals. Of the 31 cases undergoing autopsy 10 adrenal metastases were found mostly as a result of a widespread metastasis. Of the operated 74 patients 37 underwent nephrectomy alone and 37 nephrectomy together with prophylactic adrenalectomy. The histologic evaluation of the 37 removed adrenals revealed metastases only in 4 cases. Only one of them proved to be a single metastasis, the other occurring together with other metastatic lesions. The value of the adrenalectomy will be discussed.