Factors influencing adrenal metastasis in renal cell carcinoma

The factors predisposing to adrenal metastasis in renal cell carcinoma were reviewed in 695 cases. The overall incidence of adrenal metastasis was 4.3%. The risk of adrenal metastasis correlated with tumors that were on the left side, large and replacing the entire kidney, upper pole in location and of advanced T stage. Nevertheless, microscopic and/or contralateral adrenal metastasis was noted in patients with smaller, lower pole or mid renal tumors. Of 30 patients with adrenal metastasis 9 (30%) had clinical evidence of widespread disease. Among the patients who underwent complete surgical resection 14% had either positive lymph nodes or other non-adrenal metastases. Of the patients undergoing resection 81% died, with a mean postoperative survival of 27 months. Sustained disease-free survival was noted in 3 patients (0.43% of the entire series) whose complete pathological staging was pT1-3b, N0, M0. The need and benefit of adrenalectomy during surgery for renal cell carcinoma are extremely limited.