[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: the best surgical option].

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic approach has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of suprarenal gland. Nevertheless there is still controversy about the laparoscopic treatment of adrenal carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From April 2005 to April 2012, 37 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. We describe and analyze retrospectively: age, sex, side, indication for surgery, tumor size, length of hospital stay, complications and conversion rate.

RESULTS

37 Patients, 19 male and 18 female, aged 51.72 ± 14.42 years, were operated on between 2005 and 2012. Twenty-two left-sided lesions (59.45%) and 15 right-sided lesions (40.54%) were operated on. The indications for surgery were non-functioning adenoma larger than 4 cm or rapid growth and hormone-secreting tumours. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the cases with computed tomography and or magnetic resonance imaging and also metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy if pheochromocytoma was suspected. In all the cases we realized a complete pre-operative hormonal study.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure and gold standard technique for suprarenal surgery. Our experience is very satisfactory, with comparable results to the reference standard open approach.