Hazards of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Conn's adenoma - When enthusiasmturns to tragedy

A 74-year-old man with primary aldosteronism had a small tumor (27 x 23 mm) of his right adrenal gland successfully removed by a transperitoneal lapar oscopy. Despite absence of malignancy in the resected tumor and complete re lief of all symptoms in the immediate postoperative period, recurrence occu rred 6 months later. The tumor behaved as a carcinoma spread in the periton eal cavity, and the patient eventually died with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We suggest that the laparoscopic technique coupled with pneumoperitoneum m ay have favored this recurrence.