Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children with diverse adrenal pathologies: the impact of pre-operative imaging in decision making process

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the impact of pre-operative imaging regarding selecting cases of children’s who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy due to adrenal masses in two tertiary medical centers. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed at two tertiary medical centers in Israel between 2017 and 2023. Results Sixteen (n=16) patients, 10 girls and six boys, underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy through a transperitoneal approach. The median age was 10 years (range: eight months to 17.3 years). Six masses were incidentalomas. Preoperative imaging (US, CT, and MRI) demonstrated a mass in the right adrenal (n=9) and left adrenal (n=7), with tumor sizes ranging from 1.8 to 5.3 cm in maximum diameter. Operative results showed minimal blood loss and no conversions to laparotomy. There were no postoperative complications. Pathological diagnoses included neuroblastoma (n=8), cortical hormone-secreting tumors (n=3), pheochromocytoma (n=2), adrenal cortical adenoma (n=2), and adrenal metastatic Ewing sarcoma (n=1). Eleven masses were defined as benign and five as malignant tumors. Conclusions Laparoscopic adrenalectomy appears to be a safe and effective technique in selected cases with adrenal masses. Among our cohort, malignant masses were more common compared to the predominantly benign adrenal masses seen in adults. Vascular encasement was a major factor in determining the feasibility of the laparoscopic approach, with preoperative imaging playing a critical role in this assessment.