Operative management of adrenal metastases from lung carcinoma

• Published in: Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.) Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 716 - 719
• Main Authors: KIRSCH, A. J, OZ, M. C, STOOPLER, M, GINSBURG, M, STEINGLASS, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Science 01.12.1993
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - secondary; Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - secondary; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous - secondary; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous - surgery; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of endocrine glands; Endocrinopathy; Human; Lung disease; Carcinoma; Adrenal glands; Respiratory disease; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Bronchopulmonary; Case study; Treatment; Follow up study; Surgery; Adrenal gland diseases; Bronchus disease
• ISSN: 0090-4295; 1527-9995
• DOI: 10.1016/0090-4295(93)90542-i

Most surgeons consider patients with solitary adrenal metastasis from a primary lung carcinoma incurable and avoid excision of both the adrenal and primary lung tumors. However, several cases of successful surgical management of these patients recently have been reported. We reviewed 12 surgically treated patients with isolated adrenal and lung disease and identified 2 survivors of greater than fifteen years (17%) and 4 additional patients who are still alive following combined resection (34%). This survival rate, albeit in a selected population, represents an improvement over the natural history of nine months' survival. We suggest that if after six to twelve months of following patients with lung cancer and isolated adrenal metastasis no other evidence of spread of disease is evident, the tumor biology may be favorable and resection of both adrenal and lung lesions is reasonable.