Types of Adrenal Surgery
Your diagnosis as well as the size of your adrenal tumor may impact the type of procedure recommended by your surgeon.
Laparoscopic Transabdominal Adrenalectomy
This is the most common minimally invasive approach utilized by surgeons to remove the adrenal gland. 3-4 small incisions will be made under your rib cage which the surgeon will use to access the adrenal gland by going through the abdominal cavity. Generally, the entire adrenal gland is removed during surgery. This leaves you with one whole, healthy gland on the other side, which will provide all the hormonal control that you need.
Open adrenalectomy
A large abdominal incision is used when there is a diagnosis or a strong suspicion of adrenal cancer before your surgery. Occasionally, other large may also require an open operation. When performed for cancer, en bloc resection of surrounding lymph nodes and any invaded organs is also performed.
Partial Adrenalectomy
In special circumstances, such as patients with bilateral tumors or hereditary syndromes, a partial or cortical-sparing adrenalectomy (where we leave a small part of normal adrenal tissue behind) may be performed. This can be done laparoscopically.
Adrenal Surgeon
Please submit an online appointment request or call 310-829-8751 if you have any questions, need a diagnosis, treatment or second opinion.
