• Yingjie Li, Zhigang Ji, Dong Wang, and Yi Xie.
• Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Aug 6; 100 (31): e26838e26838.

RationaleRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) almost metastasizes to every organ, the possibility of adrenal metastasis is relatively low in patients that have undergone radical nephrectomy, only a few cases of bilateral adrenal metastasis are reported on literature. Although surgical treatment of metastases from RCC is preferred and contributes to the rate of survival, it is considered challenging to manage such cases due to the rarity of bilateral metastasis to the adrenal glands.Patient ConcernsA 64-year-old Manchus female presented with an incidental ultrasonic finding of a left adrenal mass 4 years after radical nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma.DiagnosisAbdominal contrast enhanced CT scan revealed bilateral adrenal masses, suggesting metastatic lesion. Examinations indicated neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis anywhere have been detected by whole body Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scan except high radioactive uptake in bilateral adrenal glands.InterventionsMetachronous bilateral adrenalectomy was taken and laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was first performed. She was discharged home on third postoperative day. Pathological examination revealed metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Two months later she was performed laparoscopic left adrenalectomy.OutcomesThe patient healed without obvious complications and no tumor recurrence.LessonsBilateral metastatic adrenal recurrence from RCC is very rare. Early diagnosis of adrenal metastasis is challenging because they are usually silent both anatomically and functionally. Surgical intervention is a wise option for these patients that may improve survival, and metachronous bilateral adrenalectomy is proved to be safe and effective.Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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