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DISORDERS OF
ADRENAL GLAND
NUR AINA BINTI AB KADIR
OBJECTIVES
 TO UNDERSTAND:
 The anatomy and function of adrenal and other
endocrine glands
 The diagnosis and management
 The role of surgery
ANATOMY
 Weight = 4g
 2 adrenal gland,
right and left
 2 component ; inner
adrenal medulla and
outer adrenal cortex
 Situated near upper
poles of kidneys in
retroperitoneum,
within Gerota’s
capsule
ANATOMY
 Right adrenal gland
– between right
liver lobe and
diaphragm
 Left adrenal gland –
close to upper pole
of left kidney and
renal pedicle,
covered by
pancreatic tail and
spleen
ANATOMY
 Arterial blood supply
–superior suprarenal
artery (from inferior
phrenic artery)
-middle suprarenal
artery (from abdominal
aorta)
- inferior suprarenal
artery (from renal
artery)
ANATOMY
 Venous blood
supply
–Right suprarenal
veins drain into
inferior vena cava
- Left suprarenal vein
drain into left renal
vein or left inferior
phrenic vein
EMBRYOLOGY
 Cortex and medulla
arises from different
blastomeric layers
 Adrenal cortex arise
from mesodermal
cells
 Adrenal medulla
arise from
neuroectodermal
cells, which migrate
to cortex from neural
crest
HISTOLOGY
 Adrenal cortex : Arranged in zonal
configuration
 Outer zona glomerulosa = small, compact cells
 Central zona fasciculata = larger, lipid-rich cells
arranged in radial columns
 Inner zona reticularis = compact & pigmented
cells
 Adrenal medulla
 Thin layers of large chromaffin cells
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
Incidentaloma
Primary Hyperaldosteronism
Cushing’s Syndrome
Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Adrenal Insufficiency
DISORDERS OF ADRENAL
CORTEX
INCIDENTALOMA
 DEFINITION: a clinically unapparent mass detected
incidentally by imaging studies conducted for other
reasons.
 INCIDENCE : 1.4%-8.7% , increase with age
 DIAGNOSIS:
 Hormone evaluation
 Morning & midnight plasma cortisol measurements
 1mg overnight dexamethasone suppresion test
 24 h urinary cortisol excretion
 12/24h urinary excretion of metanephrines / plasma-free
metanephrines
 Serum K+, plasma aldosterone & plasma renin activity
 Serum DHEAS, testosterone/17-hyroxyestradiol
 CT, MRI
 Adrenal gland biopsy (to confirm metastasis)
TREATMENT
 Non-functioning adrenal tumour > 4cm in
diameter and smaller tumours that increase in
size over time : surgical resection
 Non-functioning tumour < 4 cm: followed-up
after 6,12 and 24 months (imaging & hormonal
evaluation)
PRIMARY
HYPERALDOSTERONISM (PHA)
 Hypertension , Hypokalemia, Hypersecretion
of aldosterone
 Hypertensive patient with hypokalaemic PHA~
2%
 Hypertensive patient have PHA with normal
potassium : 12%
PRIMARY
HYPERALDOSTERONISM (PHA)
 Most : unilateral
adrenocortical
adenoma(Conn’s
syndrome)
 20-40%: bilateral
micronodular
hyperplasia
 Rare : glucocorticoid-
suppressible
hyperaldosteronism/
adrenocortical
carcinoma
 Age : 30-50 years old
with female
predominance
 Hypertension
 Headache
 Muscle weakness
 Cramps
 Intermittent paralysis
 Polyuria
 Polydypsia
 Nocturia
PATHOLOGY CLINICAL FEATURES
DIAGNOSIS
 Biochemical test
 Assess potassium and aldosterone level to plasma
renin activity
ratio
 MRI / CT scan
 To distinguish unilateral from bilateral disease
 Conn’s adenomas usually measure 1-2cm
 Selective adrenal vein catheterization
Samples are obtained from vena cava and both
veins
Aldosterone to cortisol ratio (ACR) is determined in
each sample
TREATMENT
 1ST line therapy for PHA with bilateral
hyperplasia: medical treatment- spironolactone
 Most cases : supplemental antihypertensive
medication
 Unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy: clear
evidence of unilateral/asymmetrical bilateral
disease
 Subtotal resection :typical Conn’s adenoma
CUSHING’S SYNDROME
 Hypersecretion of cortisol caused by
endogenous production/excessive use of
corticosteroids
CLINICAL SYMPTOMS
 Weight gain / central obesity
 Diabetes
 Hirsutism
 Hypertension
 Skin changes ( abd striae, facial plethora,
ecchymosis, acne)
 Muscle weakness
 Depression / mania
 Osteoporosis
 Hypokalemia
DIAGNOSIS
 Morning and midnight plasma cortisol levels
are elevated
 Dexamethasone fails to suppress 24-hour
urinary cortisol excretion.
 Serum ACTH level
Low ACTH level
Detect pituitary
tumor
Detect ectopic
cortisol producing
tumor
CT scan of chest
and abdomen
MRI positive
Elevated ACTH
level
Performed MRI of
pituitary gland
MRI negative
Assess adrenal
gland
Performed CT /
MRI scan of
adrenal gland
TREATMENT
 Medical therapy with metyrapone or ketoconazole used
in patients with severe hypercortisolism or if surgery is
not possible.
MANAGEMENT
PRE-OPERATIVE
1. Prophylactic anti-
coagulation and the
use of prophylactic
antibiotics are
essential
2. Cushing-associated
diseases (diabetes,
hypertension) must
be controlled by
medical theraphy
POST-OPERATIVE
1. Supplemental
cortisol should be
given
 15 mg h–1 is
required
parenterally for the
first 12 hours
followed by a daily
dose of 100 mg for
3 days, which is
gradually reduced
thereafter.
ADRENOCORTICAL
CARCINOMA
 Rare malignancy
with an incidence of
1-2 cases in 1mil
population per year
 Female
predominance
(1.5:1)
 Age : 1st peak [
childhood], 2nd [ 4th
& 5th decades]
ADRENOCORTICAL
CARCINOMA
 60% = cortisol
excess (cushing’s
syndrome)
 Patient with non-
functioning tumors
 Abdominal
discomfort
 Back pain ( large
tumors)
 Measurement
DHEAS, cortisol,
catecholamines
 Dexamethasone
suppresion test
 MRI/CT scan
 MRI angiography
(exclude tumor
thrombus in VC)
 CT scan of lung
(distant metastases)
CLINICAL PRESENTATION DIAGNOSIS
STAGING
 McFarlane classification
 Stage 1 : <5cm
 Stage 2 : >5cm
 Stage 3 : locally invasive tumour
 Stage 4 : tumours with distant metastasis
TREATMENT
 Complete tumor resection (R0)
 En bloc resection with removal locally involved
organ
 Tumor debulking = control hormone excess
 Tumor thrombus in vena cava = thrombectomy
 Postoperatively :
 Mitotane alone or in combination with etoposide,
doxorubicin & cisplatin
 Adjuvant radiotherapy = reduce local recurrence
 Restaging for every 3 months = prevent relapse
CONGENITAL ADRENAL
HYPERPLASIA
(ADRENOGENITAL SYNDROME)
 Virilisation and adrenal insufficiency in children
 Autosomal recessive disorder caused by
enzymatic defect in the synthetic pathway of
cortisol & other steroid from cholesterol
 95% : 21-hydroxylase deficiency
 Common signs : hypertension & short stature
 Treatment :
 replacement cortisol + fludrocortisone
 Large hypoplastic adrenals = remove (if
symptomatic)
ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY
 DISEASES ASSOCIATED : polyglandular autoimmune
syndroem, TB, after bilateral adrenalectomy,
haemorrhage,metastases,etc
ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY
TREATMENT
 Immediate treatment must be started if patient
displays features of adrenal insufficiency.
 IV hydrocortisone 100mg every 6hrs, 3L of
saline given in 6hrs under careful cardiac
monitoring.
 Chronic adrenal insufficiency = replacement
therapy with daily oral hydrocortisone (10mg)
and fludrocortisone (0.1mg)
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA(ADRENAL
PARAGANGLIOMA)
NEUROBLASTOMA
GANGLIONEUROMA
DISORDERS OF THE
ADRENAL MEDULLA
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA
 Tumour of the adrenal medulla, which is
derived from chromaffin cells
catecholamines
 Sporadic occur after 4th decade,
hereditary(earlier)
 Known as 10% tumor
 10% inherited
 10% extra-adrenal
 10% malignant
 10% bilateral
 10% children
AETIOLOGY
 HEREDITARY PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMAS
 Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2(MEN 2)
 Familial paraganglioma(PG) syndrome
 Von Hippel-Lindau(VHL) syndrome
 Neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1
PATHOLOGY
 Greyish pink on the
cut surface and
usually highly
vascularized
 Area of
haemorrhage &
necrosis
 M: polygonal but the
configuration varies
considerably
CLINICAL FEATURES
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA
 DIAGNOSIS
 Determination of
adrenaline,
noradrenaline,
metanephrine,
normetanephrine levels
in a 24hour urine
collection
 Plasma-free
metanephrine&
normetanephrine
 MRI-
localisation/metastases
 TREATMENT
 Laparoscopic resection
 >8-10cm/radiological
signs of malignancy are
detected open
approach
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA
MRI:’swiss cheese’
configuration
123I-MIBG (metaiodobenzyl -
guanidine) single-photon emission
computerised tomography (SPECT)
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA
PREOPERATIVE
 α- adrenoreceptor
blocker
(phenoxybenzamine)
 Additional β- blockade
PEROPERATIVE
 Administration of
pressor or vasodilator
agents
 Central venous catheter
and invasive arterial
monitoring
POSTOPERATIVE
 Observed patient 24
hours in ICU
 Lifelong yearly
biochemical tests
should be performed
MALIGNANT
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA
 10% of
phaeochromocytom
a are malignant
 Higher in
paragangliomas
 Metastatsis to lymph
nodes, bone and
liver
 TREATMENT
 Surgical excision
 Tumor debulking
 Symptomatic
treatment by a-
blockers
 Mitotane(adjuvant&
palliative treatment)
 131I-MIBG/
combination
chemotherapy
PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA IN
PREGNANCY
 Amnion infection
syndrome/pre
eclampsia
 1st and 2nd trimester
: laparoscopic
adrenalectomy after
adequate a-
blockade
 Risk of miscarriage
during surgery is
high
 3rd trimester:
elective Caesarean
with consecutive
adrenalectomy
NEUROBLASTOMA
 Malignant tumour that
is derived from the
sympathetic nervous
system in the adrenal
medulla (38%)/from
any site along the
paravertebral sites of
abdomen(30%),
chest(20%)
 CLINICAL
FEATURES
 Newborn infants and
young children < 5
years
 Mass in abdomen,
neck or chest
 Proptosis/exophthalm
us
 Bone pain
 Painless bluish skin
metastases
 Weakness or
paralyses
PATHOLOGY
 Pale and grey
surface
 Encapsulated
 Typical area of
calcification
 With increased size
of tumournecrosis
and haemorrhage
NEUROBLASTOMA
 DIAGNOSIS
 Biochemical evaluation:
urinary excretion(24hour
urine) of VMA, HVA,
dopamine, noradrenaline
 CT/MRI of the chest&
abdomen
 Bone scan,BMA
 MIBG scan
 TREATMENT
 Low-risk:Surgery (the
addition of 6–12 w of
chemotherapy-optional)
 Intermediate- risk:
surgery + multi-agent
chemotherapy
(carboplatin,
cyclophosphamide,
etoposide, doxorubicin)
 High-risk patients: high-
dose multi-agent
chemotherapy followed
by surgical resection in
responding tumours and
myeloablative stem cell
rescue.
GANGLIONEUROMA
 DEF: benign adrenal
neoplasm that
arises from NCT
 Mature sympathetic
ganglion cells &
Schwann cells in
fibrous stroma
 CF: found in all age
group(> before 60)
 Occur anywhere
along the
paravertebral
sympathetic plexus &
in the adrenal
medulla(30%)
 Identified incidentally
= CT/MRI for other
indications
 TREATMENT:
surgical excision,
laparoscopic
LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENALECTOMY:
RIGHT ADRENALECTOMY
LEFT ADRENALECTOMY
RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC
ADRENALECTOMY
OPEN ADRENALECTOMY
SURGERY OF THE ADRENAL
GLANDS
INTRODUCTION
 1990, laparoscopic/retroperitoneoscopic
adrenalectomygold standard in the resection
of tumor
 Laparoscopic transperitoneal approach: better
view of adrenal region
 Small, bilateral tumours/in patients with
hereditary tumour syndromes: subtotal
resection
 Open approach: radiological signs, dustant
metastases, large tumors(>8-10cm)/distinct
hormonal pattern suggest malignancy
RIGHT ADRENALECTOMY
 Position: right side up,with table brake
 Dissection start at the level of the periadrenal fat
 Peritoneum is divided 2cm below the edge of liver
from medial(IVC) to the lateral abdominal wall
 Flap of peritoneum can be used to retract the liver
up & off the adrenal
 Identify the gland and mobilise gently, securing
the vein with a clip/using one of the available
energy device
 Remove the gland in a plastic catch bag
LEFT ADRENALECTOMY
 Position: right side
 Mobilisation of the spleen will displace the
pancreatic tail medially
 Incison of Gerota’s fascia is followed by
identification of the adrenal vein
 The resection is completed by mobilising the
adrenal gland at the level of the periadrenal fat
 Remove the gland in a bag
RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC
ADRENALECTOMY
 1ST port: distal end of the 12th rib(prone
position)
 Digital dissection into the retroperitoneum,
Gerota’s fascia is displaced ventrally
 RAV is covered by the retrocaval posterior
aspect of the adrenal gland
 LAV is located at the medial inferior pole of the
adrenal gland
 High inflation pressures allow bloodless
dissection effectively tamponading the veins
OPEN ADRENALECTOMY
 Malignant adrenal tumour suspected
 Rt side: hepatic flexure of the colon is
mobilised & the rt liver lobe is cranially
retracted to achieve an optimal exposure of
the IVC & the adrenal gland
 Lf side: AG can be exposed after mobilisation
of the splenic flexure of the colon,through the
transverse mesocolon/ the gastrocolic
ligament
 Resection of regional lymph node is
recommended and should include resection of
the tissue between the renal pedicle &
REFERENCES
 Bailey & Love’s Short Practice of Surgery, 26th
Edition,page778-787