Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignancy.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary malignancies and tumors metastatic to the adrenal is controversial. Most studies demonstrate that results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignant lesions are similar to those of open adrenalectomy, without its morbidity. The results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for tumor metastases suggest that it may benefit patients who have a metachronous metastasis from any of a variety of primary tumors. Selective laparoscopic adrenalectomy for potentially malignant tumors requires seeking signs of local invasion, lymphadenopathy, or distant metastasis; there are no other reliable preoperative criteria of malignancy. Diagnostic laparoscopy may be useful, and in some cases, may establish a diagnosis. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy should be cautiously performed, with the goals of achieving complete tumor resection without disruption of the adrenal capsule.