Abstract

Objective: To present our laparoscopic surgery experiences on the treatment of adrenal masses.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated  33 cases of laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy performed in 21 female and 12 male patients (mean age 49.3±11.8; range 21-72 years) between March 2004 and March 2009. Adrenalectomy  side was right in 15 patients, left in 17 patients, and bilateral in 1 patient. Mean mass size was 35.9±13.8 (range 23-80) mm. 

Results: No conversion to open surgery was needed. Mean operation time was 151±50.8 (range 80-330) minutes and mean blood loss was 47±15.4 (range 30-100) mL. In one case distal pancreatic injury was experienced intraoperatively. No other major complication was seen. Mean of hospital stay was 3.2±1.8 (range 1-10) days and mean follow-up period was 14.1±10.9 (range 1-46) months. No postoperative early or delayed complication was experienced. Pathological evaluation revealed adenoma in 23, adrenocortical hyperplasia in 2, pheochromocytoma in 5, adrenocortical cancer in 1, metastatic adenocarcinoma in 1, and oncocytoma in 1 patients.

Conclusion: Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and minimally invasive method for the treatment of adrenal masses with its low morbidity.