Functioning adrenal gland tumors study of seven cases

ABSTRACT

This study was a retrospective analysis of seven patients with adrenal gland tumors. Patients with pheochromocytoma presented mainly with headache, persistent hypertension with paroxysmal severe attacks. Three patients with adrenal cortical adenoma presented mainly with trunkal obesity and mild hypertension, the remaining patient was a child with virilizing manifestations. Different methods of investigations were done that included estimation of catecholamines and cortisol levels in blood. Unilateral flank approach with resection of the last rib was done in all patients. The tumor was resected with the least possible manipulations after ligation of the adrenal vessels. Postoperative improvement was noticed in all patients where there was marked sustained reduction in blood pressure in cases of pheochromocytoma, and manifest reduction in body weight and blood pressure in patients with cortical adenoma showed marked amelioration of the virilizing features