Journal List > Korean J Endocr Surg > v.14(4) > 1060128

Kim, Lee, Kim, Choi, Nam, Lee, Kim, Kil, and Kim: Surgical Approach of the Rare Benign Adrenal Tumor

Abstract

Purpose

Benign adrenal tumors other than hyper-functioning tumor and non-functioning cortical adenoma are extremely rare. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical features of these rare benign adrenal tumors and to analyze their prevalence and the proper surgical approach for them.

Methods

Among patients who underwent adrenalectomy in Samsung Medical Center, between 1997 and 2013, patients with benign adrenal tumor except non-functioning cortical adenoma, malignancy, and hyper-functioning tumor such as pheochromocytoma, aldosteronoma, and cortisol producing tumor were included. Clinical details, radiologic findings and pathologic findings as well as data associated with the surgical procedure were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The percentage of these tumors among 703 surgically removed adrenal tumors was 10.7% (75 cases). They included 30 adrenal cysts, 18 ganglioneuromas, 11 myelolipomas, seven schwannomas, and the other six were rare adrenal tumors. Approximately 40% of the patients were operated under a diagnosis different from original tumors. Operation time and hospital stay of patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy were shorter than those of patients who underwent open adrenalectomy.

Conclusion

These benign adrenal tumors are very rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively. For the surgical treatment of these tumors, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is more preferable to conventional open adrenalectomy.

References

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Table 1.
Prevalence of adrenal tumors in patient who underwent adrenalectomy
Diagnosis No. of patient %
Pheochromocytoma 202 28.7
Aldosteronoma 156 22.2
Cushing 94 13.4
Nonfunctioning adenoma 87 12.4
Metastasis to adrenal gland 67 9.5
Malignancy of adrenal gland 22 3.1
Other benign adrenal mass 75 10.7
 adrenal cyst 30 4.3
 ganglioneuroma 18 2.6
 myelolipoma 11 1.6
 schwannoma 7 1.0
 hemorrhage 3 0.4
 acute and chronic inflammation 2 0.3
 lymphangioma 1 0.1
 hemagioma 1 0.1
 mesenchymal tumor 1 0.1
 myxoid spindle cell tumor 1 0.1
Total 703 100
Table 2.
Demographics of patients
Characteristics No. of patients (n=75) % or range
Age (mean, yr) 48.1 21∼84
Sex    
 Male 42 56.0
 Female 33 44.0
Symptomatic 12 16.0
BMI (mean, kg/m2) 24.9 18.4∼37.4
Tumor size (mean, cm) 6.7 0.5∼17.0
Tumor site    
 Right 39 52.0
 Left 36 48.0
Table 3.
Radiologic findings of adrenal cyst according to pathologic findings
  No. of patient % Calcification Hemorrhage Solid portion
Total Endothelial 30 15 100 50.0 14 8 5 1 9 2
 Pseudocyst 9 30.0 5 4 5
 Epithelial 1 3.3 0 0 0
 Unclassified 5 16.7 1 0 2
Table 4.
Comparison between operative methods
  Type of operation
P value
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy Open adrenalectomy
Period 1997∼2013 (n=75, %) 38 (50.7) 37 (49.3)  
 Tumor size (mean, cm) 5.9 (0.5∼12.0) 7.5 (1.2∼17.0) 0.026
 Operation time (mean, min)* 119.4 170.2 0.003
 Hospital day (mean, day)* 4.7 8.9 0.000
Period 2002∼2013 (n=54, %) 32 (59.3) 22 (40.7)  
 Tumor size (mean, cm) 6.0 (0.5∼12.0) 7.3 (1.2∼17.0) 0.172
 Operation time (mean, min)* 103.0 163.4 0.006
 Hospital day (mean, day)* 4.4 8.8 0.003

* Exclude joint operation case.

Table 5.
Preop image results according to adrenal tumor
Pathologic findings No. Radiologic findings No. Accuracy (%)
Cyst 30 Cyst 23 76.7
    Malignancy 4  
    Pheochromocytoma 1  
    Hemorrhage 1  
Ganglioneuroma 18 Ganglioneuroma 11 61.1
    Neurogenic tumor 2  
    Cyst 2  
    Lymphangioma 1  
    Malignancy 1  
    Adenoma 1  
Myelolipoma 11 Myelolipoma 8 72.7
    Lipoma/liposarcoma 2  
    Pheocromocytoma 1  
Schwannoma 7 Malignancy 3 14.3
    Pheochromcytoma 1  
    Neurogenic tumor 1  
    Ganglioneuroma 1  
    Other 1  
Hemorrhage 3 Hemorrhage 1 33.3
    Ganglioneruoma 1  
    Other 1  
Acute and chronic inflammation 2 Malignancy 2 0
Hemangioma 1 Pheochromocytoma 1 0
Lymphangioma 1 Cyst 1 0
Mesenchymal tumor 1 Myelolypoma 1 0
Myxoid spindle cell tumor 1 Adenoma 1 0
Table 6.
Characteristics of rare benign adrenal tumors
  No. (%) OP methods
Mean size (cm, range) Symptom No. (%)
Laparo scopic adrenalectomy Open adrenalectomy
Adrenal cyst 30 (40.0) 13 (43.3) 17 (56.7) 6.8 (0.5∼13.0) 5 (16.7)
Ganglioneuroma 18 (24.0) 11 (61.1) 7 (38.9) 7.4 (2.5∼17.0) 2 (11.1)
Myelolipoma 11 (14.7) 7 (63.6) 4 (36.4) 7.8 (2.5∼12.0) 3 (27.3)
Schwannoma 7 (9.3) 3 (42.9) 4 (57.1) 5.2 (2.0∼9.5) 0 (0)
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