Feasibility of adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy

Preoperative Computed Tomography Imaging Accurately Identifies Adrenal Gland Involvement In Patients With Renal Masses

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of adrenal gland involvement (AGI) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and assess the ability of preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging to predict AGI prior to radical nephrectomy (RN).

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 90 patients who underwent RN with concomitant ipsilateral adrenalectomy (CIA) between 2019 and 2021 at our institution. We reviewed the preoperative CT findings and final pathology reports to assess AGI and determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of preoperative CT imaging.

RESULTS

Five patients (5.5%) had AGI on pathological analysis. On preoperative CT, 8 patients had CT findings suspicious of AGI. All 5 patients with pathological AGI were identified preoperatively yielding a sensitivity of 100%. Pathological analysis in all patients who did not demonstrate AGI on imaging showed no adrenal invasion, yielding a negative predictive value of 100%. High-grade tumors were significantly associated with AGI (84.4% vs 33.6%, P = .02). Patients with AGI had larger tumor size when compared with those without AGI on final pathology (10 cm vs 6.89 cm, P = .07).

CONCLUSION

The overall incidence of AGI in patients with RCC is low. Preoperative CT can accurately identify those with AGI and can thus prevent unnecessary CIA during RN.

Indications for adrenalectomy during radical nephrectomy for renal cancer

Objectives

To determine if the selection criteria for ipsilateral adrenalectomy during laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RN) can be further restricted, with the goal of sparing more patients unnecessary adrenalectomy while preserving the removal of adrenal glands containing malignancy, as recent evidence suggests that adrenalectomy in association with RN for renal cancer can be limited to patients with abnormalities on adrenal imaging or large upper-pole renal tumours.

Patients and methods

The cohort consisted of two data sets, each from one institution, i.e., a training set and a validation set. All patients underwent RN for radiographically localised disease. Removal of the adrenal gland was based on the surgeon’s preference, related to the presence of a suspect adrenal lesion on preoperative imaging, suspicion for involvement of the adrenal gland intraoperatively, location of the tumour, size of the tumour and local tumour stage.

Results

Of 159 patients in the training cohort, three (2%) had metastatic renal cancer in the ipsilateral adrenal gland. All three patients had tumours of >7 cm and either an abnormal radiographic appearance of the adrenal gland or suspect intraoperative findings. In the validation cohort of 74 patients, seven (10%) had adrenal metastasis, of which one had a tumour of <7 cm and the indication for adrenalectomy was the high intraoperative suspicion.

Conclusion

We recommend performing ipsilateral adrenalectomy in association with RN for renal cancer when there is either abnormal radiographic appearance of the adrenal gland or suspect intraoperative findings, with no regard for primary tumour size.

Is adrenalectomy necessary during unilateral nephrectomy for Wilms Tumor? A report from the Children's Oncology Group

PURPOSE

To determine whether performing adrenalectomy at the time of nephrectomy for unilateral Wilms tumor impacts clinical outcome.

METHODS

We reviewed information on all patients enrolled on National Wilms Tumor Study-4 and -5. Data were abstracted on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical and pathologic status of the adrenal gland, and patient outcomes. The primary endpoints were intraoperative spill and five-year event-free survival (EFS) in patients who did or did not undergo adrenalectomy.

RESULTS

Of 3825 patients with complete evaluable data, the adrenal was left in situ in 2264 (57.9%) patients, and was removed completely in 1367 patients (36.7%) or partially in 194 patients (5.2%). Of the adrenal glands removed, 68 (4.4%) contained tumor. Adrenal involvement was more common in patients with stage 3 (9.8%) than stage 2 disease (1.9%; p < 0.0001). After controlling for stage and histopathology, five-year EFS was similar whether or not the adrenal gland was removed (p = 0.48), or involved with tumor (p = 0.81); however, intraoperative spill rates were higher in patients undergoing adrenalectomy (26.1% vs 15.5%, p < 0.0001), likely due to larger tumor size or technical factors. No patient had clinical evidence of adrenal insufficiency or tumor recurrence in the adrenal gland during follow-up (median 9.9 years).

CONCLUSIONS

Sparing the adrenal gland during nephrectomy for unilateral Wilms tumor was not associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative spill and was associated with a similar oncologic outcome, on a per-stage basis, with cases where the adrenal was removed. Thus, adrenalectomy should not be considered mandatory during radical nephrectomy for Wilms tumor.

Renal cancer

In Europe, renal cancer (that is neoplasia of the kidney, renal pelvis or ureter (ICD-9 189 and ICD-10 C64-C66)) ranks as the seventh most common malignancy in men amongst whom there are 29,600 new cases each year (3.5% of all cancers). Tobacco, obesity and a diet poor in vegetables are all acknowledged risk factors, along with specific occupational and environmental factors. A familial history of renal carcinoma is also likely to increase the risk. Renal carcinoma may remain clinically occult for most of its course. The classic presentation of pain, haematuria, and flank mass occurs in only 9% of patients and is often indicative of advanced disease. Approximately 30% of patients with renal carcinoma present with metastatic disease, 25% with locally advanced renal carcinoma and 45% with localized disease. Metastases are typically found in the lung, soft tissue, bone, liver, cutaneous sites, and central nervous system. The most important staging technique is a computed tomography (CT) scan of the whole abdomen. Survival rates are more favourable for patients with tumours confined to the kidney. Five-year survival for patients with metastatic renal carcinoma is comprised between 0 and 20%. Radical nephrectomy is the standard intervention for renal cancer. Intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy has long been a hallmark of renal carcinoma. Limited options are available for the systemic therapy, and no chemotherapeutic regimen is accepted as a standard of care. Biologic agents represent the major effective therapies for widespread metastatic renal cancer. An antiangiogenic strategy, the neutralization of VEGF, can slow the growth rate of advanced cancer.

The therapeutic value of adrenalectomy in case of solitary metastatic spread originating from primary renal cell cancer

INTRODUCTION

Solitary adrenal metastases occur in about 1.2-10% of renal cell cancer patients. Since the vast majority of intraadrenal lesions can be detected preoperatively, we and others have recently recommended to renounce a routine adrenalectomy during surgery of renal cell cancer. However, the impact of adrenalectomy on the patients' clinical prognosis in case of a solitary metastatic lesion within the adrenal gland remains an issue of controversial discussion. Whereas some authors suggest adrenalectomy as a potentially curative treatment option in these cases, others compare its clinical value with that of a mere lymphadenectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Between 1981 and 2000, 648 patients (440 males and 208 females) underwent nephrectomy in combination with adrenalectomy in our clinic for the diagnosis of renal cell cancer. The median age at first diagnosis was 59 (range 33-84) and 60 (range 20-85) years for male and female patients, respectively. The median postoperative follow - up was 2.4 years (0.2-18 years). According to the TNM - classification system (2003) tumor stages were classified as follows: T1, 228 pat. (37%); T2, 70 pat. (11%); T3, 287 pat. (46%); T4, 37 pat. (6%). In total, 339 patients revealed regional lymph node or distant metastases at the time of the surgical treatment. Although metastases of the adrenal gland were diagnosed in 48 patients, solitary intraadrenal metastases without further systemic spread were observed in only 13 cases. Several patients' and tumor characteristics (age, tumor stage and size, the presence of regional lymph node metastases, the presence of metastatic lesions at different organ sites as well as the detection of solitary intraadrenal metastases) were correlated with the patients' overall survival by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis (logistic Cox regression analysis).

RESULTS

The median long - term survival was 4.8 years for the entire cohort of patients investigated. The median long - term survival was 13.8 years and 11.7 years for patients with no evidence of metastatic spread as well as for patients with a solitary intraadrenal metastatic lesion, respectively. Accordingly, the long - term survival rates at 5 and 10 years after surgery were 66%/50% and 51%/51% for patients with no evidence of metastatic spread or isolated intraadrenal metastases. This difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, for patients revealing lymph node or distant metastases at other organ sites, the median long - term survival was significantly decreased (lymph node metastases: 0.7 years; distant metastases: 1.2 years).

DISCUSSION

For patients with a solitary intraadrenal metastatic lesion, adrenalectomy is a potentially curative treatment option. The observation that the long - term survival of the latter patients is comparable to that of patients with organ - confined disease might suggest the establishment of a separate TNM - category for patients revealing a solitary metastasis within the adrenal gland and no hint at further systemic metastatic spread.

Incidence of adrenal involvement and assessing adrenal function in patients with renal cell carcinoma: Is ipsilateral adrenalectomy indispensable during radical nephrectomy?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of ipsilateral adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy, by investigating the clinical aspects of adrenal involvement and adrenocortical function in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The demographic, clinical and pathological data of adrenal involvement were reviewed in 247 patients with RCC. To evaluate adrenocortical function, 14 patients (adrenalectomy in eight, adrenal-sparing in six) had a rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test before and 2 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

There was adrenal involvement with RCC in seven of the 247 (2.8%) patients (a solitary adrenal metastatic tumour in four and direct extension into the adrenal gland in three). All adrenal involvement was detectable on abdominal computed tomography before surgery, and these patients had a large primary renal tumour of > pT2 and/or distant metastasis. Plasma cortisol levels declined significantly more in response to the rapid ACTH stimulation test in those treated by adrenalectomy than in those with spared adrenal glands at 2 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups before surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that unconditional ipsilateral adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy for RCC should be avoidable, and thus preserve the reserve of adrenocortical function, as preoperative imaging, especially thin-slice multidetector helical computed tomography, can detect adrenal involvement with RCC in most cases. Unilateral adrenalectomy might cause an irreversible impairment of the reserve of adrenocortical function.

The need for routine adrenalectomy during surgical treatment for renal cell cancer: the Hannover experience

OBJECTIVES

To further clarify the need for routine adrenalectomy during the surgical treatment of renal cell cancer, as in the absence of clinically overt metastatic disease, tumorous lesions within the adrenal gland are found in only 2-10% of patients, with most being over-treated by adrenalectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The medical records of 819 patients undergoing adrenalectomy combined with nephrectomy, irrespective of the local extension of the primary tumour or the clinical stage at first diagnosis, were reviewed to determine the reliability of currently available imaging methods in predicting adrenal gland metastases. Several patient and tumour characteristics were correlated with the presence of intra-adrenal metastases, and their possible independent prognostic value was determined by a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

There was metastatic spread into the adrenal gland in 27 of 819 (3.3%) patients. In only three of eight patients in whom the adrenal was identified as the only metastatic site were preoperative abdominal computed tomography scans interpreted as false-negative. On multivariate statistical analysis only the presence of distant metastases, vascular invasion within the primary tumour and multifocal growth of renal cell cancer within the tumour-bearing kidney were identified as independent predictors of the presence of intra-adrenal metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the patient or tumour characteristics evaluated reliably predicted the likelihood of adrenal metastases in patients with no evidence of disseminated metastatic spread. However, previously published data indicate that the frequency of metachronous metastases within the contralateral kidney (1.8-3.8%) is significantly higher than the risk of a preoperatively undetected isolated intra-adrenal metastatic lesion when currently available imaging modalities are applied. Therefore, routine adrenalectomy should not be recommended if the preoperative radiological examinations are normal.

Renal cell carcinoma

In addition to the known risk factors for renal cell carcinoma, hypertension, obesity, and tobacco use, a diet high in consumption of fried or sautéed meat and the frequent consumption of poultry may increase the risk for renal cell carcinoma. A diet high in consumption of fruits and vegetables appears to have a protective effect. Molecular markers, in particular markers of cell proliferation, may have prognostic value and be of assistance in identifying patients who would benefit from more aggressive therapy. Surgery continues to the mainstay of treatment of localized disease, and may be the optimal treatment for patients with isolated solitary metastatic disease. Response rates to systemic therapy with cytokines vary from 5% to 20% with significant adverse effects.