Adrenal-sparing surgery for a hormonally active tumor - a single-center experience.

Introduction. Surgeries that spare the adrenal cortex during adrenalectomy have profound justification. Indications for this type of surgery are fairly strict and more than 30 years of observations continuously verify the results of the procedure. Material and method. Of the total number of 650 adrenalectomies, 22 (3.4%) were adrenal cortex-sparing surgeries. There were 16 women and 6 men in this group. In 10 cases, surgery was performed for pheochromocytoma, 8 cases involved Conn’s syndrome and in 4 cases - paragangliomas located in the paraadrenal region. Secretory activity has been identified in all cases. Results. Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy was performed in 20 patients. Conversion to open laparotomy was necessary in 2 cases. In patients after bilateral resection of pheochromocytoma surgery, glucocorticoids were supplemented for 6 weeks. No significant surgical complications have been observed in this group. Conclusions. Partial adrenalectomy for minor lesions should be a much more commonly utilized treatment method (of choice). Where bilateral adrenalectomy is necessary, sparing procedure on one side protects patients from the need for hormonal substitution. The remaining part of the adrenal gland undertakes satisfactory secretory function after 6 weeks at the latest.