This surgical approach has many benefits, including smaller scars, less pain and less recovery time than open surgery. Surgeons may perform an adrenalectomy using a minimally invasive approach, or they may use open surgery. This means you are in a sleep-like state during surgery. What you can expect During the procedureĪdrenalectomy is done using general anesthesia. Before your surgery, ask a friend or family member to help you get home after the procedure. Your health care provider will give you specific instructions. Just before the surgery, you may need to avoid eating and drinking for a certain period of time. If your body is making too many hormones, you may need to follow specific preparations before surgery to make sure the procedure can be done safely. You also may need imaging tests to help your care team prepare for the surgery. You may need to follow a special diet and take medicine. How you prepareįor a period of time before surgery, you may need to have your blood pressure checked often. Not enough hormones in the body after surgery.įor some people, the health problem that led to an adrenalectomy may return after surgery, or the surgery may not resolve it completely.Injury to organs close to the adrenal gland.In some cases, an adrenalectomy also may be advised if an imaging exam of the adrenal glands, such as a CT scan or an MRI scan, show suspicious or unclear findings.Īdrenalectomy has the same risks as other major surgeries - bleeding, infection and a bad reaction to the anesthesia. If the pituitary tumor cannot be completely removed, an adrenalectomy may be necessary. A tumor in the pituitary gland also can trigger the adrenal glands to make too much cortisol. That leads to a condition called Cushing syndrome.

Some tumors cause the gland to make too much of the hormone cortisol. They include tumors called pheochromocytomas and aldosteronomas. In some cases, certain types of tumors can trigger the glands to make extra hormones. If an adrenal gland makes too many hormones, it can cause a wide range of symptoms that may lead to serious health problems. Most adrenal gland tumors are not cancer. Tumors that are not cancer are called benign tumors. Adrenal gland tumors that are cancer are called malignant tumors.

You may need an adrenalectomy if one or both of your adrenal glands:

Adrenal tumor on kidney