Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy for recurrent pheochromocytoma after open partial adrenalectomy in von Hippel-Lindau disease

Extent of surgery for phaeochromocytomas in the genomic era

Background

Germline mutations are present in 20–30 per cent of patients with phaeochromocytoma. For patients who develop bilateral disease, complete removal of both adrenal glands (total adrenalectomy) will result in lifelong adrenal insufficiency with an increased risk of death from adrenal crisis. Unilateral/bilateral adrenal-sparing surgery (subtotal adrenalectomy) offers preservation of cortical function and independence from steroids, but leaves the adrenal medulla in situ and thus at risk of developing new and possibly malignant disease. Here, present knowledge about how tumour genotype relates to clinical behaviour is reviewed, and application of this knowledge when choosing the extent of adrenalectomy is discussed.

Methods

A literature review was undertaken of the penetrance of the different genotypes in phaeochromocytomas, the frequency of bilateral disease and malignancy, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, with emphasis on explaining the clinical phenotypes of phaeochromocytomas and their associated syndromes.

Results

Patients with bilateral phaeochromocytomas most often have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) with high-penetrance mutations for benign disease, whereas patients with mutations in the genes encoding SDHB (succinate dehydrogenase subunit B) or MAX (myelocytomatosis viral proto-oncogene homologue-associated factor X) are at increased risk of malignancy.

Conclusion

Adrenal-sparing surgery should be the standard approach for patients who have already been diagnosed with MEN2 or VHL when operating on the first side, whereas complete removal of the affected adrenal gland(s) is generally recommended for patients with SDHB or MAX germline mutations. Routine assessment of a patient's genotype, even after the first operation, can be crucial for adopting an appropriate strategy for follow-up and future surgery.

Management of Adrenal Masses

An adrenal mass can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic in the form of adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) in up to 8 % in autopsy and 4 % in imaging series. Once a diagnosis of adrenal mass is made, we need to differentiate whether it is functioning or nonfunctioning, benign, or malignant. In this article, we provide a literature review of the diagnostic workup including biochemical evaluation and imaging characteristics of the different pathologies. We also discuss the surgical strategies with laparoscopy as the mainstay with partial adrenalectomy in select cases and adrenalectomy in large masses. Follow-up protocol of AIs and adrenocortical carcinoma is also discussed.

The utility of cortical-sparing adrenalectomy in pheochromocytomas associated with genetic syndromes

Management of pediatric patients with pheochromocytomas associated with genetic syndromes, such as Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, is complex owing to the need for continuous surveillance, high rates of recurrence, multiple operations during childhood, and the possibility of lifelong exogenous steroid replacement. We report the successful treatment of two siblings with VHL who underwent a total of six cortical-sparing procedures without requiring steroid therapy.

Partial adrenalectomy minimizes the need for long-term hormone replacement in pediatric patients with pheochromocytoma and von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

PURPOSE

Children with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) are at an increased risk for developing bilateral pheochromocytomas. In an effort to illustrate the advantage of partial adrenalectomy (PA) over total adrenalectomy in children with VHL, we report the largest single series on PA for pediatric patients with VHL, demonstrating a balance between tumor removal and preservation of adrenocortical function.

METHODS

From 1994 to 2011, a prospectively maintained database was reviewed to evaluate 10 pediatric patients with hereditary pheochromocytoma for PA. Surgery was performed if there was clinical evidence of pheochromocytoma and if normal adrenocortical tissue was evident on preoperative imaging and/or intraoperative ultrasonography. Perioperative data were collected, and patients were observed for postoperative steroid use and tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

Ten pediatric patients with a diagnosis of VHL underwent 18 successful partial adrenalectomies (4 open, 14 laparoscopic). The median tumor size removed was 2.6 cm (range, 1.2-6.5 cm). Over a median follow-up of 7.2 years (range, 2.6-15.8 years), additional tumors in the ipsilateral adrenal gland were found in 2 patients. One patient underwent completion adrenalectomy, and 1 underwent a salvage PA with resection of the ipsilateral lesion. One patient required short-term steroid replacement therapy. At last follow-up, 7 patients had no radiographic or laboratory evidence of pheochromocytoma.

CONCLUSION

At our institution, PA is the preferred form of management for pheochromocytoma in the (VHL) pediatric population. This surgical approach allows for removal of tumor while preserving adrenocortical function and minimizing the adverse effects of long-term steroid replacement on puberty and quality of life.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma: the National Cancer Institute technique

BACKGROUND

Partial adrenalectomy has recently been advocated to preserve unaffected adrenal tissue during resection of pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a robot-assisted laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy (RALPA) technique and to report on early functional and oncologic outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From 2007 to 2010, 15 RALPA were performed on 12 consecutive patients with pheochromocytoma. Follow-up data of >1 yr are available on 11 procedures. Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 17.3 mo (range: 6-45).

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

Positioning and port placement is designed for adequate reach and visualization of the upper retroperitoneum. The plane between the adrenal cortex and pheochromocytoma pseudocapsule is identified visually and with laparoscopic ultrasound. The tumor is dissected away from normal adrenal cortex, preserving normal adrenal tissue.

MEASUREMENTS

Preoperative, perioperative, pathologic, and functional outcomes data were analyzed.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Fourteen of 15 cases were completed robotically. Among 15 procedures, 4 were performed on a solitary adrenal gland. Four cases required resection of multiple tumors (up to six) with two performed in a solitary gland. The mean age of the patients was 30 yr, and the mean body mass index was 27. The mean operative time was 163 min, the median estimated blood loss was 161 ml, and the median tumor size was 2.7 cm (range: 1.3-5.5). There was one conversion to an open procedure in a patient requiring reoperation on a solitary adrenal gland. One patient who underwent RALPA on a solitary adrenal gland required postoperative steroid supplementation at last follow-up. At a median follow-up of 17.3 mo (range: 6-45), there were no recurrences or metastatic events. Study limitations include small sample size and short follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

RALPA for the treatment of pheochromocytoma is feasible and safe and provides encouraging functional and oncologic outcomes, even in patients with a solitary adrenal lesion or multiple ipsilateral lesions.

Functional and oncologic outcomes of partial adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma in patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome after at least 5 years of followup

PURPOSE

Although the safety and feasibility of partial adrenalectomy in patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome have been established, long-term outcomes have not been examined. In this study we evaluate the recurrence and functional outcomes in a von Hippel-Lindau syndrome cohort treated for pheochromocytoma with partial adrenalectomy with a followup of at least 5 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome treated with partial adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma at the National Cancer Institute. Demographic, germline mutation status, surgical indication, oncologic and functional outcome data were collected. Local recurrence was defined as radiographic evidence of recurrent tumor on the ipsilateral side of partial adrenalectomy. Patients were considered steroid dependent if they required steroids at most recent followup.

RESULTS

A total of 36 partial adrenalectomies for pheochromocytoma were performed in 26 patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome between September 1995 and December 2003. Of these cases 23 were performed open and 13 were performed laparoscopically. Prior surgical history was obtained for all patients. At a median followup of 9.25 years (range 5 to 46) metastatic pheochromocytoma had not developed in any patients. In 3 patients (11%) there were 5 local recurrences treated with surgical extirpation or active surveillance. All recurrences were asymptomatic and detected by radiographic imaging on followup. In addition, 3 of 26 patients (11%) subsequently required partial adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma on the contralateral adrenal gland. In the entire cohort only 3 patients became steroid dependent (11%).

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes of partial adrenalectomy in patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome with pheochromocytoma are encouraging at long-term followup and should be recommended as a primary surgical approach whenever possible. Adrenal sparing surgery can obviate the need for steroid replacement in the majority of patients. Local recurrence rates appear to be infrequent and can be managed successfully with subsequent observation or intervention.

VHL disease

von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) disease increases susceptibility to several malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma, haemangioblastomas of the central nervous system or retina and phaeochromocytomas. The VHL tumour suppressor gene, responsible for the disease, encodes for a major regulator of the hypoxic response by targeting the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) for degradation. In this review, we present a synopsis of clinical features of the disease and emphasise unique aspects of VHL syndrome in the paediatric population. Genotype-phenotype associations based on the risk of phaeochromocytoma have pointed to the existence of additional, HIF-independent functions of VHL that remain underexplored. We also examine the progress on these pleiotropic roles of VHL, which contribute to explain clinical features of VHL disease. These advances have important translational implications and are likely to offer a new host of therapeutic options to individuals affected by the disease in the future.

Phaeochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas

BACKGROUND

About 24 per cent of phaeochromocytomas (PCCs) and sympathetic paragangliomas (sPGLs) appear in familial cancer syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease, neurofibromatosis type 1 and PCC-paraganglioma syndrome. Identification of these syndromes is of prime importance for patients and their relatives. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for both PCC and sPGL, but controversy exists about the management of patients with bilateral or multiple tumours.

METHODS

Relevant medical literature from PubMed, Ovid and Embase websites until 2009 was reviewed for articles on PCC, sPGL, hereditary syndromes and their treatment.

DISCUSSION

Genetic testing for these syndromes should become routine clinical practice for those with PCC or sPGL. Patients should be referred to a clinical geneticist. Patients and family members with proven mutations should be entered into a standardized screening protocol. The preferred treatment of PCC and PGL is surgical resection; to avoid the lifelong consequences of bilateral adrenalectomy, cortex-sparing adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice.

Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy

The concept of organ- and function-preserving surgery without compromising the primary goal of complete tumour removal has been recently applied in adrenal surgery. This has been accomplished by open surgery in the past. With recent advancements in minimally invasive surgery, partial adrenalectomy by laparoscopic approach has become feasible. The indications, contraindications and worldwide experience have been reviewed for this article.

Adrenal-preserving minimally invasive surgery: update on the current status of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy

Adrenalectomy is the standard of care for hormonally active adrenal masses. In recent years, minimally invasive laparoscopic excision has become a preferred management option. As with advances in parenchymal-sparing renal surgery, investigators have begun to examine adrenal-sparing procedures to preserve functional adrenal tissue. This article reviews the recent literature and reports on intermediate results with laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy (LPA).

Laparoscopic Adrenal Surgery for Recurrent Tumours in Patients with Hereditary Phaeochromocytoma

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience with Laparoscopic Partial Adrenalectomy (LPA) for recurrent tumours in patients with hereditary phaeochromocytoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Five patients with hereditary phaeochromocytoma (4 with von Hippel-Lindau disease and 1 with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2B), who had undergone adrenal surgery previously, presented with recurrent adrenal tumours. One patient was pregnant at 20 weeks of gestation. All patients underwent hormonal evaluation, genetic screening and imaging with CT or MRI, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy.

RESULTS

Of the 7 attempted LPA in five patients, five procedures (71%) were successfully completed and total adrenalectomy was needed on two occasions. The adrenal vein could be spared in all patients except one. There were no intra-operative complications. The adrenal function was adequate in all patients without need for steroid supplementation except one patient who lost both adrenals eventually. There was no correlation between the preservation of adrenal vein and adrenocortical function.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy is feasible, safe and effective in recurrent phaeochromocytoma, despite previous adrenal surgery and is technically easier if the previous approach had been laparoscopic as well. Patients with hereditary phaeochromocytoma are prone for recurrent tumours and may need repeated surgical procedures. Hence, minimally invasive approach is ideal for these patients.

Laparoscopic Adrenal Surgery: New Frontiers

After about 10 years of experience, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the gold standard for the treatment of adrenal lesions. Here, we describe the presenting features, imaging methods, and current surgical approaches to diseases of the adrenal gland. There is general agreement on the suitability of the laparoscopic approach for benign adrenal lesions, but controversy exists about using laparoscopy for suspected adrenal malignancy, metastasis, and partial adrenalectomy. This article reviews the literature on laparoscopic adrenalectomy. In particular, we focus our attention on the new surgical approaches to the gland. We evaluate the indications, operative techniques, and tools for partial adrenalectomy, and we discuss new surgical strategies such as cryosurgery and radiofrequency ablation.

Wiederholungseingriffe an den Nebennieren

Repeat adrenalectomy may be required due to ipsilateral recurrence of benign or malignant adrenal tumors after previous total or subtotal adrenalectomy. Even for multivisceral resection in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma, complete resection of local recurrent tumor offers results similar to those of primary resection (5-year survival 40-60%). In contrast, since no benefit on long-term survival has been shown so far by tumor debulking, palliative tumor resection should only be performed individually for control of severe endocrine symptoms. The effect of endoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with large tumors (>5 cm) or suspected malignancy has still not been well examined. Further studies are required. In any case, during open or endoscopic approach, tumor spillage must be avoided to prevent local tumor cell implantation. Following subtotal adrenalectomy, the risk of ipsilateral recurrence correlates with disease, follow-up, localization, size of the adrenal remnant, and, in case of familial pheochromocytoma, probably with genotype.

Extent of adrenalectomy for adrenal neoplasm: cortical sparing (subtotal) versus total adrenalectomy

The standard operation on adrenal neoplasias is a complete adrenalectomy. Accepted exceptions are bilateral inherited pheochromocytomas. In these cases, clinical and biochemical cure, as well as preservation of cortical function, can be achieved by a noncomplete adrenalectomy. In that procedure, at least one third of one gland has to be preserved. In unilateral adrenal tumors, partial resection has been used, especially in Conns adenomas, with early results comparable to those of total adrenalectomy. Because longterm results are still limited in hyperaldosteronism, final conclusions are not possible today.

Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor, but it represents a potentially curable form of hypertension. In patients with inherited pheochromocytoma, benign and bilateral tumors are more common. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma rests in biochemical confirmation of catecholamine excess. Plasma-free metanephrine levels are arguably the most sensitive and specific test for the biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in high-risk patient populations. A timed 24-hour urine collection for total catecholamines and metabolic products (eg, vanillylmandelic acid and metanephrines) is the favored confirmatory test. Localization is most commonly accomplished with high-resolution computed tomography imaging, but magnetic resonance imaging can also be used. If both of these imaging modalities are nonlocalizing or equivocal, then radiolabeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine or somatostatin can be used to identify an adrenal or extra-adrenal tumor (paraganglioma). These imaging modalities can be used in the evaluation of patients with suspected or confirmed recurrent or metastatic disease. Systemic therapies for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic disease have been disappointing. Radiation therapy is best applied for palliative relief of pain associated with bony metastases. In the absence of radiographic evidence for local tumor invasion, laparoscopic resection of small- to medium-sized (< 6 cm) pheochromocytomas is indicated. Abundant evidence indicates that this approach is safe and well tolerated and results in more rapid recovery and less long-term wound morbidity compared to open anterior or posterior adrenalectomy. Open anterior adrenalectomy is appropriate for patients with large or recurrent tumors, suspected or documented locoregional invasion, or for those patients in whom a laparoscopic approach is technically contraindicated. For selected patients with pheochromocytoma in the von Hipple-Lindau syndrome or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 setting in which the cumulative incidence of clinical bilateral tumors is high, a cortical-sparing approach may minimize the risk of Addisonian complications.

Paediatric laparoscopic surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Laparoscopic procedures in paediatric urology are gaining popularity, with an increasing number of centres performing advanced surgery. Indications have expanded from diagnostic to ablative surgery and more recently to reconstructive procedures. The current status of the indications and results of different laparoscopic procedures dealing with paediatric urology are reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Laparoscopic orchiopexy for intra-abdominal testis gives better results than classic open surgery procedures. Palomo modified varicocelectomy with lymphatic preservation is the optimal surgical procedure to treat varicocele in adolescents. The retroperitoneal approach to renal surgery is gaining popularity. Total and partial nephrectomies are feasible in comparable operative times with open surgery and shortened hospital stays. Dismembered pyeloplasty remains a challenging procedure limited to few centres, with excellent midterm results. Laparoscopic adrenal surgery has been extended to neuroblastoma in selected cases. Laparoscopic transvesical ureteric re-implant is now feasible, and opens a new era in bladder surgery. Finally, results of the initial experience with robot-assisted pyeloplasty are now available in children, and showed similar results with regard to the postoperative course, but shorter operative times with experience.

SUMMARY

The value of laparoscopic orchiopexy for intra-abdominal testis and ablative surgery such as total and partial nephrectomy and adrenalectomy has been confirmed. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery will probably popularize challenging procedures such as pyeloplasty and ureterovesical re-implant, which are still limited to a few centres. Despite an increase in the number of publications dealing with the results of laparoscopic procedures, efforts are still needed to validate the benefits of such procedures over open surgery.

Adrenal-preserving minimally invasive surgery: the role of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy, cryosurgery, and radiofrequency ablation of the adrenal gland

Adrenalectomy has become the standard of care for the management of hormonally active adrenal masses. Various surgical therapies have been proposed to excise completely or destroy these adrenal lesions, which may be benign or malignant. New minimally invasive, adrenal-sparing procedures have recently been introduced, among them laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy, cryosurgery, and radiofrequency ablation. These procedures focus on reducing patient morbidity and hastening postoperative recovery while preserving normal adrenal tissue. However, questions remain about the risks and benefits associated with routine application of minimally invasive therapies for adrenal-sparing surgery in terms of complete tumor extirpation. Clearly, more experience and longer follow-up is necessary to validate these procedures. Herein we describe the surgical techniques and early results of treatment with adrenal-sparing surgery.