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Purpose:To evaluate the presentation and early surgical outcomes of elderly patients undergoing adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.Patients and Methods:A retrospective search was performed of our adrenal disorders database for patients who underwent surgery for phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma between 2009 and 2014. Patients >60 years old were classified as elderly. The clinical manifestations, intraoperative course, and early postoperative outcomes of elderly patients were compared to those of younger individuals (<60 years old).Results:The mean (±standard deviation) age in the older (n=10) and younger (n=36) groups was 69.6±5.3 years and 34.0±12.9 years. Germ-line mutations were more common in younger patients (50.0% versus 0%; p=0.004), whereas incidental lesions were more common in the elderly (40.0% versus 5.3%; p=0.003). In both groups, surgery was most commonly performed by videolaparoscopy (90% in the elderly and 82% in the younger group), with similar intraoperative anesthetic and surgical outcomes. Postoperatively, the older group more commonly received vasoactive drugs (60.0% versus 10.5%; p<0.001) and had a longer intensive care unit stay (3.1±2.8 versus 1.4±1.0 days; p=0.014), more clinical complications (60% versus 18.9%; p=0.01), and longer hospital stay (10.2±8.4 versus 5.7±4.9 days; p=0.028).Conclusions:Although all patients received the same preoperative preparation, the elderly group exhibited a slower and more complicated recovery after adrenalectomy. Meticulous perioperative care should be used in the elderly when treating phaeochromocytoma; nevertheless, adrenalectomy is a relatively safe procedure in this patient population.

Purpose This prospective study presents the results of a new approach in the treatment of primary macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PMAH), with simultaneous total adrenalectomy of the larger adrenal gland and partial adrenalectomy of the contralateral adrenal gland (adrenal-sparing surgery). Materials and Methods We performed a prospective study including 17 patients with PMAH treated surgically with adrenal-sparing surgery in a tertiary referral hospital, with a median follow-up of 41 months. Clinical, hormonal, and genetic parameters were evaluated before surgery and during follow-up. All patients had at least 1 radiological examination before and after the procedure. Results Among the 17 patients, all but 1 patient had complete hypercortisolism control, and 12 recovered normal adrenal function after surgery. Significant improvement in clinical parameters was observed: weight loss (P = .004); reduction of both systolic (P = .001) and diastolic (P = .001) blood pressure; and reduction in the number of antihypertensive drugs (P &lt; .001). Intra-, peri-, and postoperative complications were not observed. Conclusion Adrenal-sparing surgery is a safe and feasible procedure to treat patients with PMAH, providing a substantial chance of hypercortisolism control without the disadvantages of lifetime corticosteroid replacement.