肾上腺偶发瘤临床分析

目的 总结肾上腺偶发瘤的临床、内分泌及病理学特点. 方法回顾性分析97例病理确诊肾上腺偶发瘤患者的临床资料.男53例,女44例.平均年龄45岁.肿瘤位于左侧38例、右侧52例、双侧7例.有较完整内分泌检测资料者74例.肿瘤最大直径由B超确定8例、CT确定54例、MRI确定35例. 结果 97例中恶性肿瘤20例(20.6%),其中肾卜腺皮质癌12例、恶性嗜铬细胞瘤3例、转移癌2例,肉瘤、神经母细胞瘤、恶性神经鞘瘤各1例;肾上腺皮质腺瘤26例(26.8%),良性嗜铬细胞瘤21例(21.6%),髓脂肪瘤9例(9.3%),肾上腺囊肿13例(13.4%),节细胞神经瘤5例(5.2%),神经纤维瘤3例(3.1%).高血压病患者40例(41.2%),功能性偶发瘤21例(28.4%).肿瘤直径<4 cm者25例(25.8%)、4～6 cm者33例(34.0%)、>6 era者39例(40.2%).肿瘤直径<4 cm者中恶性肿瘤仅1例(4%).恶性肿瘤直径(9.9±4.6)cm,良性肿瘤直径(5.6±3.2)锄(P=0.01).恶性肿瘤中直径>6 cm者15例(75.0%),良性肿瘤中27例(35.1%,P=0.001).恶性肿瘤患者体质量减轻者5例(25.0%),良性肿瘤者中2例(2.6%,P==0.004). 结论 肾上腺偶发瘤中皮质腺瘤、良性嗜铬细胞瘤和恶性肿瘤居前3他,偶发瘤均应进行详细的内分泌检测,肿瘤直径<4 cm足筛选无内分泌异常的偶发瘤随访时的一项重要指标.     

肾上腺恶性肿瘤的诊治（附34例报告）

目的：探讨肾上腺恶性肿瘤的诊断和治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析34例肾上腺恶性肿瘤的临床资料。其中肾上腺皮质癌13例;恶性嗜铬细胞瘤8例;肾上腺转移癌8例;皮质癌并发同侧肾盂癌1例;节神经母细胞瘤1例;恶性纤维组织瘤1例;脂肪肉瘤1例;肾上腺髓外浆细胞瘤1例。全部34例患者中,有临床症状者23例,有内分泌功能改变者22例。结果：所有患者均接受手术治疗,其中29例肿瘤全切,4例肿瘤小部分或包膜残留,1例仅探查取活检。32例获得随访,时间为2个月-5年。死亡11例,死亡患者生存期为5-29个月,平均21个月。结论：对于肾上腺恶性肿瘤患者。手术切除是首选治疗方法,并且术后的随访很重要。肾上腺皮质癌患者总体预后较差,化疗和放疗可作为术后辅助治疗。恶性嗜铬细胞瘤患者预后较好,MIBG和酚苄明可改善患者生存。对于转移性肾上腺肿瘤患者,手术切除孤立的转移灶可明显提高患者的5年生存率。     

多种蛋白在肾上腺肿瘤组织中的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨多种蛋白:增殖细胞相关的核抗原(Ki67)、肿瘤抑制基因p53、细胞角蛋白(CKL)、上皮膜抗原(EMA)、酸性钙结合蛋白S-100、神经元特异性烯醇酶(NSE)、嗜铬素A(CgA)、突触素(syn)、癌胚抗原(CEA)和肿瘤转移抑制基因nm23在肾上腺肿瘤组织中的表达及临床意义.方法 应用单克隆抗体免疫组化技术链霉菌抗生物素蛋白-过氧化酶连接法(S-P法)检测163例肾上腺肿瘤组织中多种蛋白的表达,并收集患者的一般资料,包括患者年龄、临床症状、检验结果、病理类型等,进行统计学处理.所有资料应用SAS 6.12软件分析处理,以P＜0.05作为检验标准. 结果 CKL、S-100,NSE、CgA、Syn、nm23在肿瘤组织中表达明显升高(P＜0.05).S-100、CgA、Syn表达与病理类型显著相关(P＜0.05),3种蛋白表达两两互呈正相关性(P＜0.01).CKL,S-100、NSE、CgA、Syu、nm23在肾上腺良恶性肿瘤中的表达无差异(P＜0.05),但明显高于正常肾上腺组织(P＜0.05).Syn在肾上腺皮质腺瘤中的表达明显高于皮质腺癌(P＜0.05),Ki67在肾上腺皮质腺瘤中的表达明显低于皮质腺癌(P＜0.05).EMA、CKL在肾上腺皮质肿瘤中的表达明显高于髓质肿瘤(P＜0.05),S-100、Syn、NSE、CgA在肾上腺皮质肿瘤中的表达明显低于髓质肿瘤(P＜0.05). 结论 CKL、S-100、NSE、CgA、Syn、nm23这6种蛋白为肾上腺肿瘤的良好标志物,可用于肾上腺肿瘤的定性诊断.联合检测Syn和Ki-67对肾上腺皮质肿瘤的鉴别诊断有重要的参考价值.联合检测EMA、CKL、S-100、Syn、NSE及CgA并紧密结合临床则有助于皮髓质肿瘤的鉴别.     

无功能性肾上腺肿瘤的诊断与治疗(附39例报告)

目的：提高无功能性肾上腺肿瘤的诊治水平。方法：回顾性分析我院17年来39例无功能性肾上腺肿瘤患者的临床资料。结果：39例中,38例行肿瘤切除或剜除术,1例仅行活组织检查;30例病理检查证实为良性无功能性肾上腺肿瘤,其中节细胞神经瘤7例,平滑肌瘤1例,皮质腺瘤10例,髓脂瘤3例,神经鞘瘤1例．肾上腺囊肿8例。随访6个月～7年,临床症状消失,无肿瘤复发。9例病理检查证实为恶性无功能性肾上腺肿瘤,其中脂肪肉瘤1例,皮质腺癌4例,转移癌4例,术后2年内,8例死亡,1例无癌生存14个月。结论：无功能性肾上腺肿瘤临床少见,早期诊断困难,CT是首选检查方法,确诊依赖于病理检查。手术切除是良性肿瘤的有效手段,但对恶性肿瘤预后较差。     

Adrenal incidentaloma--report of 14 operated cases and analysis of 4-year autopsy series of Japan

During the last 7 years, operation was performed for 94 cases of adrenal tumor in our series, of which 14 were incidentally found by abdominal computed tomography or echography. They included 9 cases of pheochromocytoma, 1 of Cushing's syndrome, 3 of ganglioneuroma and 1 of cortical adenoma. Five of 9 pheochromocytoma cases were devoid of hypertension, but all 9 cases had abnormally high levels of urinary catecholamines and/or their metabolites. The 4-year autopsy series of Japan (1980-1983) included about 153,000 cases. Except the metastatic tumors, the following lesions were incidentally found in the adrenal gland: 310 of cortical adenoma, 153 of cortical hyperplasia, 39 of pheochromocytoma and 17 cases of neurogenic tumors. Some of the cortical adenomas are presumed to be more than 1 cm in diameter. So, they are expected to be found incidentally, more frequently in the future. Surgery is not necessary for most of them, except for functioning tumors. Most of the pheochromocytomas are presumed to be hormonally active, and should be treated surgically. It is probable that these functioning tumors had been missed clinically, especially in the elderly persons. Neurogenic tumors and myelolipomas may be left in place, when malignancy can be ruled out.     

肾上腺偶发瘤的诊治

目的探讨肾上腺偶发瘤的诊断步骤和治疗方法的选择。方珐回顾性分析手术证实的129例肾上腺偶发瘤的临床资料。结果129例中125例完整切除肿瘤，肿瘤直径1．2—18cm。嗜铬细胞瘤31例，皮质腺瘤37例，皮质癌9例，转移癌4例，淋巴瘤3例，其他良性肿瘤45例。结论肾上腺偶发瘤中大部分为皮质和髓质肿瘤，因此需在术前做内分泌检查，确定有无功能；对直径大于3cm的无功能肿瘤及有功能或疑有恶变的需手术治疗；而小于3cm无功能肿瘤可定期随访。     

儿童肾上腺皮质肿瘤(附13例报告)

目的　提高对儿童肾上腺皮质肿瘤的认识。　方法　肾上腺皮质肿瘤患儿 13例。男8例 ,女 5例。年龄 2岁 6个月～ 16岁 ,平均 8岁。左侧 5例 ,右侧 8例。回顾性总结其临床特点及诊断治疗情况。　结果　皮质腺癌 6例 ,腺瘤 7例。 9例伴高血压 ,其中 2例出现高血压危象 ;11例表现为库兴综合征 ;10例合并性征异常。 13例均行手术治疗 ,7例腺瘤均完整摘除 ;6例皮质腺癌中 ,5例行肿瘤摘除但术中肿瘤破溃 ,1例行部分切除。手术并发肾静脉损伤 2例 ,下腔静脉、门静脉及肾静脉多发损伤伴出血性休克 1例 ,膈肌穿破 1例。 6例皮质腺癌患者中 ,4例术后 1年内死亡 ,2例术后 5个月复发并再次手术。　结论　儿童肾上腺皮质癌多伴雄激素分泌过多而出现性征异常 ,应与先天性肾上腺增生或性早熟鉴别。血管损伤为常见手术并发症。肾上腺皮质腺瘤手术疗效良好而腺癌预后不佳     

无功能性肾上腺恶性肿瘤(附12例报告)

目的探讨无功能性肾上腺恶性肿瘤的临床特点及诊治方法. 方法无功能性肾上腺恶性肿瘤12例.其中6例有发热、骨痛等症状.肿瘤直径3 cm 1例,5～10 cm 9例,>10 cm 2例.有局部浸润和(或)转移者10例. 结果 5例行肿瘤切除或剜除,5例仅行活检,病理诊断皮质腺癌4例,转移癌4例,黏液脂肪肉瘤1例,淋巴瘤1例;2例未手术.住院期间死亡1例,2年内死亡10例,1例肾上腺皮质癌于术后3年复发,次年死亡. 结论无功能性肾上腺恶性肿瘤少见,早期诊断困难,预后差.     

Proliferative activity and genetic changes in adrenal cortical tumors examined by flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND: To determine differences in biological features among different adrenal tumors, we investigated the DNA ploidy, numerical chromosomal aberration and proliferative activity in human adrenal cortical neoplasms. METHODS: Our study included six adrenal cortical adenomas with Cushing syndrome, 12 adenomas with hyperaldosteronism, three non-functioning adenomas and three adrenal cortical carcinomas. Isolated nuclei from frozen samples were used for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from the same materials were analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM) for DNA ploidy. Sections from paraffin blocks were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against Ki-67 and p53. For FISH analysis, we used an alpha-centromeric enumeration probe for chromosome 17. RESULTS: The mean Ki-67 labeling index (LI) of adrenal cortical carcinomas was markedly higher than that of adrenal cortical adenomas (209.4 vs 8.7). In functional adrenal cortical adenomas, the LI was significantly lower in adenomas with hyperaldosteronism than in those with Cushing syndrome (P = 0.004), although FCM results indicated that tetraploid patterns were more frequently observed in the former type. Tumor size was significantly smaller in adenomas with hyperaldosteronism than in those with Cushing syndrome (P = 0.004). Chromosome 17 showed disomy in all adrenal cortical adenomas, whereas chromosome 17 abnormalities were found in two of three adrenal cortical carcinomas. Only the latter two cases strongly expressed p53 protein. CONCLUSIONS: Our study characterized various biological features of benign and malignant adrenal cortical tumors. The use of a combination of markers might provide additional information to assist our understanding of the clinical behavior of an individual adrenal cortical tumor.     

Limitations of size as a criterion in the evaluation of adrenal tumors

BACKGROUND: Size has been considered to be the single best predictor of malignancy in adrenal neoplasms that have been identified incidentally. However, small adrenal cortical cancers have been reported from multiple centers. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the value of tumor size and other clinical parameters in the prediction of the presence of adrenal malignancy. RESULTS: The records of 117 patients who underwent evaluation for tumors of the adrenal gland were reviewed. The median tumor size of the adrenal cortical carcinomas (n = 38 carcinomas) was 9.2 cm (range, 1.7-30 cm); 5 cancers (13.5%) were smaller than 5.0 cm. The median overall size of the benign tumors, excluding pheochromocytomas, was 4.0 cm (n = 38 carcinomas); 10 benign tumors (26%) were larger than 5.0 cm. The imaging features of 4 of 5 small adrenal cancers predicted malignancy; the remaining patients had hormonally functioning tumors. The imaging features of 7 of 10 large benign adrenal tumors predicted benign histologic features, including 5 of 5 myelolipomas. CONCLUSIONS: Although size remains a good predictor of the histologic features and clinical behavior of adrenal neoplasms, both small adrenal cortical cancers and large benign tumors occur with measurable frequency. High-quality imaging studies may be helpful in the identification of relatively small adrenal cancers and of characteristic benign lesions that may be selectively followed.     

Results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for suspected and unsuspected malignant adrenal neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic resection for malignant adrenal tumors is controversial, because they are rare and limited data exist in the literature. HYPOTHESIS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignant adrenal tumors is safe and effective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients who had a laparoscopic approach for suspected and unsuspected malignant adrenal tumors were studied retrospectively. The adrenal mass was suspected to be metastatic if the patient had a history of previous extra-adrenal primary malignancy and/or positive fine-needle aspiration cytologic findings. A primary adrenal cancer was suspected if there were positive fine-needle aspiration cytologic findings and/or a malignant adrenal imaging phenotype. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Margins of tumor resection, (2) tumor recurrence (locoregional, port site, and distant), and (3) disease-free survival. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (15 men and 8 women) had 24 laparoscopic procedures (20 adrenalectomies, 3 biopsies, and 1 diagnostic laparoscopy). Permanent histologic specimens in the 23 patients showed 5 adrenocortical cancers, 1 undifferentiated adrenal cancer, 13 adrenal metastases, 2 lymphomas, and 2 cases with no evidence of tumor. Clinically suspected adrenal metastases were true positive in 19 patients (83%). The sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration cytology was 57% (n = 7). Only 1 of 6 patients with primary adrenal cancer was suspected to have a malignant tumor preoperatively. The tumor resection margin was negative in all adrenalectomies. There were 3 locoregional recurrences (2 local and 1 lymph node metastasis) in the 6 patients with primary adrenal cancer, no port site recurrences, and 4 distant recurrences in 13 patients with metastatic adrenal tumors. The disease-free survival was 65% at a mean follow-up time of 3.3 years (range, 1-7 years). CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic approach in patients with suspected adrenal metastasis can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, and achieves complete tumor resection. In contrast, laparoscopic adrenalectomy for clinically unsuspected adrenocortical cancer is associated with a high recurrence rate. Furthermore, preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology for the evaluation of suspected malignant adrenal tumors is unreliable.     

肾上腺偶发瘤的外科治疗选择

目的 探讨肾上腺偶发瘤的手术指征.方法 总结147例肾上腺偶发瘤患者资料,分析偶发瘤的手术指征,比较腹腔镜和开放性手术的适应证.147例患者中,恶性肿瘤19例(12.9%),平均直径(8.5±3.9)cm,≤4 cm者4例(21.1%),其中肾上腺皮质癌15例、恶性嗜铬细胞瘤4例;良性功能性肿瘤29例(19.7%),平均直径(4.1±2.1)cm,其中≥3 cm者22例(75.9%);19例良性嗜铬细胞瘤中24 h尿香草扁桃酸升高2例,5例醛固酮瘤中血钾稍低2例,5例亚临床库欣综合征腺瘤患者血皮质醇升高,均无明显内分泌异常症状;良性无功能性肿瘤99例(67.3%),其中肾上腺皮质腺瘤61例(61.6%).结果 147例均行手术治疗.腹腔镜下手术组102例,开放性手术组45例,2组肿瘤直径分别为(3.4±1.8)cm和(6.7±1.5)cm(P＜0,0001);手术并发症发生率分别为5.9%(6/102)和15.6%(7/45)(P=0.1103).腹腔镜中转开放手术5例(4.9%),主要见于黏连严重的恶性肿瘤或肿瘤直径＞6 cm者.结论 肾上腺偶发瘤常见类型为无功能肾上腺腺瘤、嗜铬细胞瘤、肾上腺皮质癌.可疑恶性、有内分泌功能、直径≥3 cm的肾上腺偶发瘤应积极手术治疗.腹腔镜手术创伤小、恢复快,为手术首选;肿瘤直径＞6 cm、黏连严重、可疑恶性者应以开放性手术为主.     

Flow cytometric DNA analysis of normal adrenal tissues and adrenal tumors

Flow cytometric DNA analysis (FCM) of adrenal tumors was studied to evaluate whether FCM will be a useful examination for differentiating between benign and malignant adrenal tumors. 10 specimens of surgically resected (for renal cell carcinoma confined within the middle or lower pole) normal adrenal glands and 20 specimens of surgically resected adrenal tumors were submitted for the study. Hyperplastic adrenal cortex as well as normal adrenal gland showed normal diploid pattern. On the other hand, some of the cortical adenomas showed tetraploid patterns, which has been known to be an index of malignancy in most of the flow cytometric intervention to other solid tumors. Conn adenomas were especially apt to show this tendency, in which as much as 86% showed tetraploid pattern. Proliferation Index (PI) (ratio of S + G2 +M cells for the whole population of analyzed cells) were as much as 9.45 +/- 6.97% in normal adrenal cells, whereas it was much higher in cortical adenomas (17.75 +/- 8.53%). As a matter of fact, PI of hyperplastic adrenal cortex was within the same range as that of the normal adrenal glands. In pheochromocytomas, aneuploid pattern, which has been believed to be a definite index of malignancy, was shown in 60% of the cases, tetraploid pattern in 20%, and normal diploid pattern in only 20%. As a matter of fact, a case of non functioning cortical adenocarcinoma and a case of malignant pheochromocytoma were judged to show typical aneuploid pattern. Thus, the application of the flow cytometric diagnosis for adrenal tumors was supposed to require some refinement in understanding the significance of aneuploidy or tetraploidy.     

巨大肾上腺肿瘤手术方法探讨(附35例报告)

目的:提高巨大肾上腺肿瘤手术水平。方法:回顾性总结了经手术治疗的35例巨大肾上腺肿瘤患者临床资料。结果:行腹部正中切口8例,腹部右侧L形切口7例;左侧腹部胸膜外胸腹联合切口5例,左侧胸腹联合切口3例;肋间切口12例,其中第10肋间切口8例,11肋间切口4例。肿瘤位于右侧肾上腺21例;位于左侧肾上腺14例。肿瘤直径8～35cm,平均15.8cm,重量75～2600g,平均550g。术后病理提示皮质癌5例;嗜铬细胞瘤(pheo)20例;恶性pheo4例;恶性纤维组织细胞瘤1例;节神经细胞瘤1例;髓样脂肪瘤1例;畸胎瘤1例;畸胎肉瘤1例;高分化脂肪肉瘤1例。结论:①周密充分的药物准备以及合理完整的影像学定位资料,是术前处理的关键。②大部分巨大肾上腺肿瘤拟用经腹切口,必要时右侧肾上腺肿瘤可行右侧腹部L形切口;左侧肾上腺肿瘤可用腹部胸膜外胸腹联合切口,或胸腹联合切口。③术后注意生命体征观察,防止稀释性贫血、肾上腺皮质功能不全以及低血糖的发生。     

Mixed corticomedullary adrenal carcinoma

Truly mixed corticomedullary tumors (MCMTs) are extremely rare and present as a single tumor mass composed of an intimately admixed population of both adrenal cortical cells and pheochromocytes. The current study describes the first case of a mixed corticomedullary adrenal carcinoma. In addition, we also review the published data on MCMTs to determine their clinical features, biochemical characteristics, pathological findings, and management. In order to compose this review, a search of the international literature for MCMTs was conducted. Fifteen related articles were found. The clinical and pathological information was obtained for all reported cases. MCMTs were found almost exclusively in females. In the vast majority of patients, the symptoms were related to the tumor’s hormone hypersecretion. Hypertension and diabetes were present in 80 and 40 % of cases, respectively. Cushing’s syndrome was reported in eight cases (53.33 %). A final diagnosis was made in all cases after surgery based on the pathological results. As of the writing of this article, all published cases of MCMTs had benign clinical behavior, with no instances of metastasis or death due to the tumor. MCMTs are currently considered to be benign tumors. Ours is the first case of malignant MCMT reported in the literature. The potential for malignancy should therefore be considered for these tumors.     

Results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large and potentially malignant tumors

ndoscopic adrenalectomy is the procedure of choice for patients with small functioning adrenal tumors. For most surgeons invasive adrenal carcinoma is an absolute contraindication for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). Whether LA should be proposed for large (> 6 cm), potentially malignant tumors is questionable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks and outcome of LA performed in our department in patients with tumors > 6 cm and potentially malignant. We performed a retrospective study of 216 patients who underwent 233 LAs in our department from 1994 to 2000. We selected 19 patients with a tumor > 6 cm and potentially malignant: 8 nonfunctional tumors, 4 cortisol-secreting tumors, 1 virilizing tumor, and 6 pheochromocytomas. In none of these patients did preoperative investigations demonstrated invasive carcinoma. The median tumor size was 70 mm. LA was performed by a transperitoneal flank approach. Conversion to open adrenalectomy was performed in two patients owing to intraoperative evidence of invasive carcinoma. The median operating time was 150 minutes (range 95–240 minutes). Capsular disruption occurred during the dissection of two pheochromocytomas. There was no postoperative morbidity. Six patients had an adrenocortical carcinoma on pathologic diagnosis: three of the eight nonfunctional tumors, one of the four cortisol-secreting tumors, and one virilizing tumor. One patient presented with liver metastases 6 months after surgery and died. The five other patients are disease-free with a follow-up ranging from 8 to 83 months. The 13 patients with benign lesions (6 cortical adenomas, 1 ganglioneuroma, 6 pheochromocytomas) are disease-free with a median follow-up of 47 months (range 10–81 months). In experienced hands LA can be proposed for large, potentially malignant tumors. Conversion to open adrenalectomy should be performed if local invasion is observed during surgery. At present the risk of intraabdominal recurrence is unknown.     

Adrenal cortical carcinoma in Norway, 1970-1984.

Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare and highly malignant tumor. This retrospective study includes 99 patients (57 males and 42 females) reported to The Cancer Registry of Norway during the 15 year period from 1970 to 1984. The age adjusted incidence was 1.5 per million per year. Eighty-one patients were diagnosed with adrenal cortical carcinoma when still alive. In 18 cases the diagnosis was first made at autopsy. Median age at diagnosis was 54 years (range 2-88 years) with a slight male predominance. Information about initial symptoms was available in 67 patients, of whom 26 patients (18 females and 8 males) presented with clinically functioning tumors, the Cushing syndrome and virilization being most frequently encountered. Only 28 (35%) of 81 patients diagnosed when still alive had tumors confined to the adrenals. Half of the patients had distant metastases, with lungs and liver being the most frequent sites. Sixty-one patients underwent surgery; 51 patients had a radical or debulking operation and 10 patients had laparotomy with tumor biopsy. After a complete follow-up for at least 6 years (range 6-21 years), only 9 patients were still alive. Early stage (Stage I and II) and curative resection had a significant impact on the outcome of this disease. To improve prognosis, early diagnosis and radical surgery, if feasible, are needed.     

肾上腺皮质嗜酸细胞肿瘤的临床诊治(附5例报告)

目的 探讨肾上腺皮质嗜酸细胞肿瘤的临床、病理学特征及治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析5例肾上腺嗜酸细胞肿瘤的临床资料.结果 5例患者中,1例表现为女性男性化,1例皮质醇节律异常表现为皮质醇增多症合并表现库欣综合征,3例无特异表现,肿瘤大小为13 cm×12 cm×10 cm到8.0 cm ×6.0 cm ×5.5 cm.术中...     

Current problems in adrenal surgery

Retrospective study on diagnosis and management during the perioperative period of patients with adrenal tumors who underwent adrenalectomy in the Second Department of Surgery Kyoto University, from 1960 to 1983, was carried out. Most of the patients presented with functioning tumors; primary aldosteronism (43 cases), Cushing's syndrome (53 cases), pheochromocytoma (39 cases), and DOC-producing tumor (1 case), whereas, only 3 cases were non-functioning adenoma and cyst. Although recent development of CT has permitted easy and non-invasive diagnosis of adrenal tumors, aldosterone-producing tumors may be overlooked due to their small sizes, because their CT value is identical to that of fatty tissue. Moreover, blood sampling from vena cava at various levels is also necessary in patients with extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas. The preoperative control of blood pressure by alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents was a prerequisite, and the clinical course was uneventful following intraoperative additive use of sodium nitroprusside in patients with pheochromocytoma. Autotransplantation of the adrenal cortex into the rectus muscle was performed in three patients with bilateral pheochromocytoma and two of them could return to work. Non-functioning adrenal tumors have been found increasingly by routine CT study without previous suspicion and the surgical indication of these tumors must be discussed in more detail in the future.