World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Dec 2004
Partial versus total adrenalectomy by the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach: early and long-term results of 325 consecutive procedures in primary adrenal neoplasias.
The retroperitoneoscopic approach is a standardized operative procedure for primary adrenal gland tumors. It allows direct access with a detailed view of the adrenal gland. Thereby, a clear differentiation between normal and neoplastic adrenal tissue is often possible, which permits a planned partial resection of the gland in selected cases. ⋯ Fourteen of 15 patients with bilateral diseases had preservation of adrenocortical function. After a mean follow up of 51 months (range: 7-120 months) local recurrence or relapse of the initial diseases was noticed in 6 patients after total adrenalectomy: in 4 patients with Conn's syndrome and bilateral hyperplasia, and in 2 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical carcinoma, respectively. Our data demonstrate that partial adrenalectomy is a safe procedure not only perioperatively but also in the long-term follow-up.