Laparoscopic
adrenalectomy is currently recognized as the gold standard for the treatment of adrenal
tumors. In order to assess the current status of laparoscopic
adrenalectomy, we reviewed the literature focusing on the indications and
contraindications, surgical techniques, complications and new methods. We also reviewed the results separately for aldosteronoma,
pheochromocytoma,
Cushing's syndrome, and primary or metastatic
adrenal cancer.Laparoscopic
adrenalectomy is a safe and effective treatment for adrenal disorders, excluding primary
adrenal cancer. There are no differences of the various operative parameters between the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches, so the choice of approach should depend on the surgeon's preference or the patient's circumstances. It is important for the surgeon to remove the
tumor and the surrounding fat en bloc, especially in the case of large or irregular
tumors because of the potential for
malignancy. The surgeon must also immediately switch to an open procedure if the laparoscopic operation becomes difficult.We conclude that use of laparoscopic
adrenalectomy allows the performance of
minimally invasive surgery with the advantages of more rapid recovery and a shorter
hospital stay than open
adrenalectomy.