Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for bilateral metachronous aldosteronomas.

INTRODUCTION

Primary aldosteronism affects 5% to 13% of patients with hypertension. Idiopathic bilateral hyperplasia (IHA) and unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) are the most common types of primary aldosteronism. Bilateral APA is a very rare entity with only a few reports in the literature. We present the case of a patient with metachronous bilateral APA treated with metachronous bilateral total and near total adrenalectomy.

CASE REPORT: A 66-year-old female was evaluated for hypokalemia and hypertension refractory to medical therapy 2 years after laparoscopic adrenalectomy for right APA. Follow-up abdominal CT scan revealed a new 1.1-cm left adrenal mass. The patient underwent a laparoscopic near total adrenalectomy for her new left adrenal mass. Pathology examination revealed a new APA. The operation and the patient's postoperative course were uneventful. Potassium levels were normalized and her hypertension became well controlled.

CONCLUSION

APA can present metachronously months to years after adrenalectomy for APA in the contralateral adrenal gland. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy remains the approach of choice for this pathology.