[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the treatment of adrenal ganglioneuroma].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the treatment of adrenal ganglioneuromas.

METHODS

The clinical data of 12 cases of adrenal ganglioneuromas undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy between February 2002 and August 2010 were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

None of them had endocrine function. The average long diameter of ganglioneuromas was 6.5 cm (range: 1.5 - 16.8 cm). Ten tumors were resected through retroperitoneal approach with an average long diameter of 6.0 cm and another two through transperitoneal approach with 7.5 and 10.7 cm in size respectively. Three tumors surrounded renal pedicle and one adhered to kidney. The average operative duration was 144 minutes, average blood loss 194 ml and average postoperative hospitalization stay 5.4 days. None had local recurrence and distant metastasis during a mean follow-up period of 45 months.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is both safe and feasible for adrenal ganglioneuromas if an appropriate approach is chosen and renal pedicle well-protected.